NWSL players have become overnight sensations due to their extraordinary reactions to HotShot, a fiery sports drink. Created by a Nobel prize-winning neuroscientist, HotShot is formulated to combat muscle cramps. Despite the players’ over-the-top responses, HotShot’s CEO states that the viral videos have actually benefitted the company.
A number of prominent professional soccer players are now incorporating HotShot into their game routines to prevent cramps. Several NWSL stars have gained fame for their dramatic on-field reactions to the 50-milliliter shot of spicy liquid known as “HotShot.” “It may seem eccentric, but it’s effective,” says Wafaa Chatila, the head athletic trainer for the NWSL’s Kansas City Current, in an interview with Insider. Chatila and Pratik Patel, the team’s nutritionist, often administer HotShot to athletes to swiftly alleviate cramps. Developed by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Rod MacKinnon and Harvard Medical School neurobiology professor Bruce Bean, HotShot’s formula is designed to rapidly restore affected muscles to their normal state, preventing cramping from hindering an athlete’s performance.
HotShot works by targeting the root cause of cramps. The neuromuscular theory, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggests that as a muscle fatigues, it becomes less capable of responding to motor neuron signals to contract and relax. Consequently, the muscle seizes up, resulting in excruciating pain and limited mobility. MacKinnon and Bean personally experienced this distressing phenomenon while kayaking off the coast of Cape Cod, inspiring them to find a solution based on their neuroscience research. They identified transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in the mouth, throat, and stomach that inhibit the hyperactivity of motor neurons, thus stopping cramps. HotShot’s key ingredients, including capsaicin from red pepper, ginger, and cinnamon, stimulate these receptors, but the taste is admittedly “intense,” according to HotShot’s president and CEO Matthew Wohl. Wohl clarifies that the intensity is necessary for the neurological effect to occur rapidly. Since HotShot does not need to be digested or absorbed into the body, it can immediately activate the receptors in the mouth, throat, and stomach.
While HotShot’s taste has generated mixed press, Kansas City rookie Michelle Cooper’s viral reaction to the drink during a June match against the Orlando Pride attracted significant attention. Despite Cooper’s subsequent aversion to HotShot, Chatila stands by its effectiveness, claiming it works within minutes. This quick relief is not only considerably faster than the typical recovery time for cramps, but also reduces the waiting period needed to prevent subsequent cramps, as suggested in a 2017 Sports Medicine study.
Cooper’s incident was followed by Angel City FC striker Alyssa Thompson’s similar response to HotShot. Although Thompson expressed her dislike for the drink, athletes in the midst of experiencing cramps are primarily concerned with alleviating their discomfort. “When an athlete gets a cramp, depending on where it is, it can be incredibly painful,” explains Patel. “So, despite the less-than-optimal taste, it’s worth it to drink something to relieve the cramp.”
Surprisingly, the negative reactions have actually boosted HotShot’s business. NWSL fans and media members have been intrigued by the viral videos and have flocked to the company’s website to purchase HotShots for themselves. HotShot’s CEO, Matthew Wohl, reports a significant increase in website traffic and orders following the videos’ circulation. The buzz has even led to a HotShot Challenge, endorsed by Portland Thorns and Canada Women’s National Team star Janine Beckie, encouraging individuals to try HotShot. For every video posted of individuals consuming the spicy beverage, HotShot pledges to donate $2 to the Women’s Sports Foundation.
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