Magic sponge

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A magic sponge is a sponge soaked in very hot or cold water applied to sports injuries in order to reduce inflammation and pain. It was frequently used as a panacea for such injuries. Association Football teams pioneered the use of the magic sponge as the combination of its pain relieving effects and, possibly, the placebo effect served to get valuable players quickly back into a game.

The magic sponge is rarely employed in professional sports since the introduction of trained physiotherapists. Its function can be better fulfilled by an ice pack or heating pad, which do not carry the risk of infections spreading between players.