NWSL
What is HOTSHOT drink? NWSL stars seen taking muscle cramp treatment
Michelle Cooper and Alyssa Thompson both recoiled after taking a sip of the mystery sports drink, but what is it and what does it do?
A little-known sports drink brand, HOTSHOT, has built up a keen following amongst cyclists, marathon runners and triathletes. The brand claims to offer a solution to cramping mid-exercise, a painful and all-too-common part of sport.
Last week the mystery liquid made its way onto the pitch of two NWSL fixtures, with hilarious results. Michelle Cooper of the Kansas City Current and Angel City’s Alyssa Thompson were both seen receiving a dose of HOTSHOT while suffering with cramp.
There reactions left many viewers wondering exactly what is was that they had consumed, and how it was supposed to help. We take a look…
What does HOTSHOT do?
Cooper and Thompson both appeared to be suffering from cramp when they were offered the spicy sports drink. The company offers a few different products but the HOTSHOT Muscle Cramps drink is that one that seems to be gaining a little traction in the world of soccer.
The brand’s website claims that the product offers “fast relief” against muscular cramps. The site is laden with recommendations from athletes who purport to have benefitting from the shot.
Craig Alexander, five-time triathlon world champion, has penned a testimonial on the brand’s website: “I am a big believer in the science behind HOTSHOT. It has really enhanced the performance of my key intensity sessions.”
Does HOTSHOT work?
The drink has been described as “pungent” in reviews on the company website, but that is sort of the point. The brand claims that the drink “stimulates sensory nerves in our mouth, throat and stomach”, apparently with a pretty unappetising and spicy flavour.
Muscle cramps occur when a muscle is overworked and the motor neurons start to seize up. HOTSHOT essentially aims to override the messages from the athlete’s body with a severe flavour sensation that elicits a sharp response.
HOTSHOT claims that the drink pushes the body’s nerve responses to “send an inhibitory signal through the spinal cord to stop the hyperactivity and return the motor neuron function to normal.”
It’s a very original approach to dealing with an issue that affects athletes all abilities. The fact that the drink has made its way onto the professional soccer pitches of the United States does suggest that there is some merit in it.
But given the apparently unpleasant taste of the anti-cramp elixir, players may decide to stick to a bit of stretching and a glug of Gatorade for now.