Kendra Mar joints, muscles, and other parts of the body can really put a damper on your day. While diet and exercise are helpful, sometimes you need to seek out pain relief from topical medications like creams. The best cream for muscle and joint pain can be found at your local drugstore or pharmacy. Some require a prescription, while others are available over the counter (OTC).

Most creams for muscle and joint pain work by being absorbed through the skin to provide relief in the affected area. They may contain ingredients that cause a cooling, warming, tingling, or numbing sensation to relieve pain. Some are designed to be reactive, meaning they’re used when you start to feel pain in your muscles or joints, while others are meant to be a regular treatment to help prevent chronic pain.

Soothing Solutions: Creams with Cooling Effect for Muscle and Joint Pain

Creams, ointments, and rubs can all have different formulas that vary in strength, absorption, and how they’re applied to the skin. Some can be messy, greasy, or take longer to penetrate the skin than other types of products. Gels and sprays tend to be less messy, absorb more quickly, and may be easier to apply.

Icy Hot’s Extra Strength pain relief cream combines menthol to instantly cool your muscles, followed by methyl salicylate to relieve the underlying pain. This formula is also fast-absorbing, delivering relief for arthritis, backache, neck pain, and other muscles and joints.