PARSIPPANY, N.J. – In a groundbreaking feasibility study conducted during a major U.S. marathon, Oxford University researchers—led by Dr. Rebeccah Slater, Statutory Professorial Chair and Fellow at St. John’s College—demonstrated that topical menthol can deliver fast, measurable pain relief in real-world athletic conditions. The study found that 70% of runners experienced significant relief within 10 seconds of applying Biofreeze, with pain levels dropping by 35%, or at least two points on the standard 0–10 visual analog pain scale.
Conducted in partnership with Biofreeze, the No. 1 clinically recommended menthol topical pain relief brand from Reckitt, the study took place during the 2024 Chicago Marathon—marking the first time pain relief research has been carried out during a major marathon event. Dr. Rebeccah Slater recently presented the findings at PAINWeek, the largest annual conference for pain management professionals in the U.S., highlighting the value of studying pain relief in real-world, high-performance environments rather than controlled laboratory settings.
Additional findings from the study revealed:
- 89% of runners reported that the application of menthol to the skin aided their recovery
- Women tended to have more knee and hip pain among study participants
- Men reported a higher average pain score than women among marathon study participants
"From an evidence perspective, the findings provide real-world data from a large group of recreational runners doing a real activity alongside elite athletes," said Dr. Slater. "This data isn't generated in an artificial setting, and this makes it highly relevant for people with day-to-day sports-related aches and pains."
The study assessed 192 marathon runners at the race finish line. On average, participants rated their pain just above six on the 0–10 VAS. Within 10 seconds of applying Biofreeze, that average dropped to four. Importantly, researchers found that neither a positive nor a negative expectation of pain relief efficacy had an impact on the magnitude of the reported pain relief, indicating that the observed effects were not attributable to placebo.
"Partnering with Oxford University – one of the world's leading clinical research institutions – has allowed us to validate what runners have long experienced with Biofreeze," said Mark Pearson, Global Vice President, VMS & Wellness at Reckitt. "Our presence at the Chicago Marathon is rooted in our commitment to support runners in achieving their personal best. We are proud to be the first brand to conduct in-marathon pain relief research, and we are excited to build on that momentum by continuing the study at the 2025 Chicago Marathon – further advancing innovation in the pain relief category."
Biofreeze has sponsored the Chicago Marathon since 2018, giving runners access to Biofreeze Pain Relief and Recovery Zones on the course and at the finish line. Located at mile 21, notoriously the most challenging point of a marathon, the Biofreeze Pain Relief Zone offers runners pain relief using Biofreeze cooling spray to help runners push through the final miles. This year, Biofreeze is expanding these experiences to runners at the Twin Cities and Dallas marathons.
