A new fitness tracker report just published from the warming and cooling muscle and joint care range – Deep Heat & Deep Freeze – www.mentholatum.co.uk – ARE WE ON TRACK? Deep Heat & Deep Freeze maps Britain’s exercise habits – has revealed some scary statistics around the nation’s fitness habits.
Almost half (48%) of those aged 45 to 60 are now doing no formal exercise in 2025, compared to 24% who reported doing nothing in 2022, the publication of the first Deep Heat & Deep Freeze fitness tracker report. In fact, a high one in seven adults (14%) across all ages admitted they never exercise in the latest 2025 fitness tracker report from Deep Heat & Deep Freeze.
The main reason for this? Pain. In fact, two out of five (42%) of adults cite muscle and joint pain as their main barrier to exercise with the prevalence of pain rising with age. Nearly a third (30%) of 18- to 24-year-olds confirmed it sometimes prevents them from exercising, compared to 57% of those aged 55 to 60.
Physiotherapist and part of the Deep Heat and Deep Freeze expert hub, Sammy Margo says: “Overall, 67% of adults say they have experienced some form of muscle and joint pain, either related to exercise or general aches and pains. In fact, for most questioned for the real-world research poll published in this latest report – ‘Are We On Track’ – aches and soreness seem to occur across the whole body with:
- 30% of Brits noting also muscle and joint pain in their legs
- 28% feel pain in their knee
- 26% feel discomfort in their backs
- A quarter of Brits say they feel pain in their feet while 24% experience muscle and joint pain in their ankles.
Speaking of what’s behind the nation’s discomfort, musculoskeletal specialist from the Deep Heat & Deep Freeze expert hub, Clara Kervyn says: “For many, the cause of pain is unknown as 44% report experiencing muscle pain for no apparent reason. But the Deep Heat and Deep Freeze data has found that, of those who are exercising, 37% run regularly. While running is great, the constant pounding can lead to lower body aches and tightness, especially if not done properly.”
Sammy Margo adds: “Perhaps exercise pain is linked to the fact that 27% of respondents don’t use any form of warm-up and only 37% say they regularly cool down. But without these essential book-ends to your workout, then people are more likely to suffer a muscle or joint injury which will take them out of the game for a few days or, in some cases, several weeks or months.”
Exercise doesn’t need to be excessive. The NHS recommends that adults clock up 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week. This can be brisk walking or playing tennis for example; anything which raises your heart rate and makes you breathe more heavily. But, pushing a lawn mower or vigorously cleaning can also count towards your 150 minutes.
But why should we be moving more?
Elyn Marwick, Personal Trainer, Coach & Functional Fitness Specialist & Cross Fit International Competitor, who also swears by Deep Heat and Deep Freeze says there’s endless research which shows just how beneficial exercise can be
“A large US study found that adults who are inactive could add 6.8 years to their lifespan if they did more exercise. Plus, there are many research-backed health benefits to exercise. Did you know that exercise can cut cardiovascular disease risk by 48% to 57%? The risk of type-2 diabetes is also reduced by 16% with every hour of brisk walking cutting prevalence by 34% while the risk of developing various types of cancer also decreases.”
Research has found that colon cancer risk is cut by 70%, breast cancer risk is lowered by 75% and prostate cancer risk is reduced by as much as 65%. In terms of mental health, exercise has been shown to reduce dementia risk by up to 20% and depression by 23%.
Clara Kervyn adds: “There’s no denying the science: exercise is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle and it’s benefits are far reaching. The new Deep Heat & Deep Freeze fitness tracker report has also revealed other barriers to exercise, along with pain, as 39% say a lack of energy (39%) stops them moving and 37% blame a lack of motivation.”
But, as Sammy Margo explains, exercise does in fact GIVE you energy. “Exercise, whether it be walking, running, lifting weights or playing padel with a friend, it all increases the quality and quantity of mitochondria, which are essentially the power-packs inside every cell which directly impact respiration and energy levels., Plus, exercise releases feel-good body chemicals including endorphins and the reward-hormone dopamine, giving you motivation to move.
But, as Sammy Margo explains, exercise does in fact GIVE you energy. “Exercise, whether it be walking, running, lifting weights or playing padel with a friend, it all increases the quality and
quantity of mitochondria, which are essentially the power-packs inside every cell which directly impact respiration and energy levels., Plus, exercise releases feel-good body chemicals including endorphins and the reward-hormone dopamine, giving you motivation to move.
“As you start to feel better with more exercise, you will notice more energy and perhaps even see changes in your body and mood from exercise. Also, your motivation to exercise will naturally increase further.”
Plus, exercise helps to protect bones, which is particularly important for menopausal women whose deteriation in the hormone oestrogen leads to a decline in muscle mass and strength and it’s also associated with reduced bone density and an increase in visceral fat – aka fat that sits around our organs. Anything we can do to encourage increased activity among middle-aged and older women is likely to deliver meaningful health benefits.
But all these exercise benefits still doesn’t change the fact that pain is stopping people from exercising. Sammy Margo adds: “Even if you want to move, pain can stop you. That’s why finding simple, practical ways to ease angst and discomfort is important.”
The Deep Heat and Deep Freeze range
Science-backed products, such as the ones in the Deep Heat and Deep Freeze range allow you to channel the self-care power of hot and cold therapies at the gym, on the go or at home.
The Deep Heat range
Heat brings more blood to the muscle and that brings added oxygen and nutrients to enhance muscle repair, as well as relaxing aching and over tired muscles. It also helps to ease those uncomfortable muscle ‘knots’.
Deep Heat Muscle Rescue Heat Spray
Deep Heat Muscle Rescue Heat Spray is a scientifically backed warming therapy essential self-care must-have. It delivers fast, targeted relief to warm and soothe tight, tense muscles via Vanillyl butyl ether (VBE). This hero ingredient creates a thermal sensation on the skin by activating a specific thermal receptor (vanilloid). It’s also climate friendly thanks to the ingenious EcoValve technology, which eliminates the need for ozone-depleting Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) while producing an even, fine, misted spray for easy application.
For you to throw into your gym bag, Deep Heat Muscle Massage Roll-on Lotion is ideal. It combines massage with heat therapy and when used before exercise, it helps to reduce the risk of injury and to damp down any flare-ups when exercising. This format is also perfect for everyday use to ease and release tight, knotted muscles in the legs, shoulders, backs and any other muscle and joint angst areas.
Deep Heat Heat Rub is the classic go-to for targeted pain relief and can be used before or after exercise. It also helps with stiffness including back and rheumatic pain, sciatica, fibrositis, sprains and chilblains.
For a super charged version of the classic rub, Deep Heat Max Strength contains more than twice the amount of methyl salicylate, the painkilling ingredient which delivers relief. Always read the label.
Deep Heat Pain Relief Heat Patch is a handy odourless adhesive patch, providing warming relief for muscular pain, strains and joint stiffness for up to 16 hours. It can be used for pain across the back, hips, thighs, calves, arms, knees, the neck and the shoulders, to provide targeted and soothing relief right where you need it.
Available in an extra-large format is Deep Heat Pain Relief Back Patch which is perfect for back pain and other large areas such as the hips, shoulders and thighs. It activates within a minute and provides 8 hours of comfortable, non-medicinal, targeted, warming therapy, as well as an additional 8 hours of ongoing relief once the patch is removed.
Deep Heat Warming Belt is a great way to soothe pain in the lower back or hips. The discrete, odourless, non-sticky warming belt comes with four large heat cells that provide up to 12 hours of deep penetrating warmth. The belt can be worn during exercise too!
Loved by consumers around the globe and known as the muscle and joint care warming therapy specialists, Deep Heat is launching a new edition to the Deep Heat family – New Deep Heat Magnesium Massage Balm. Ideal as a warm-up and recovery balm, New Deep Heat Magnesium Massage Balm is designed for anyone experiencing muscle tension, aches or fatigue.
The New Deep Heat Magnesium Massage Balm, made from 100% natural ingredients, comes at the right time as research conducted by Deep Heat has found that a high 42% of Brits have suffered from an exercise-related injury and an even higher 67% have had to deal with muscle pain. Legs, knees and back are the most common muscular hotspots.
The Deep Freeze range
Cooling therapies have the opposite effect to heat as they help calm minor aches and pains by calming inflammation and reducing blood flow.
Deep Freeze Muscle Rescue Cold Spray is ideal for use immediately after exercise as it provides an instant burst of targeted cooling relief for minor aches in muscles and joints or past injury flare-ups. The no-fuss spray format allows application on hard-to-reach areas such as the back, legs, feet, and shoulders. And like the Deep Heat Muscle Rescue Heat Spray, the Deep Freeze Muscle Rescue Freeze spray comes in a new climate-friendly aerosol with zero LPG.
For none the fuss and mess of ice, Deep Freeze Glide-on Gel works in the same way and can always be close to hand to deliver scientifically proven cooling and soothing relief from minor aches in the back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet. It’s simple to use on the go or to pop into gym or kit bags and handbags.
Deep Freeze Cold Patch is a discrete self-adhesive patch which is scientifically backed and provides targeted cooling and soothing relief for three hours. It works just like ice by cooling the desired area, helping to decrease blood flow and calm and sooth muscular or joint pain. It’s ideal for backs, necks, shoulders, legs, and feet plus it’s safe for mums-to-be who need relief from pregnancy-related discomfort in the back.
An easy to apply and mess-free gel, Deep Freeze Cold Gel also has all the soothing power of ice and works fast to cool and soothe minor aches in muscles and joints.
Last word
Elyn Marwick adds: “The benefits of exercise are too good to miss, yet the new Deep Heat and Deep Freeze fitness tracker report makes it clear just how many people are having to skip exercise because of muscle and joint pain. We don’t need another reason to skip movement, so doing what we can to help ease any discomfort and remove this huge barrier to exercise, can help to ensure we’re still reaping as many benefits of exercise as possible.”
In Summary
• The evidence is beyond doubt: keeping active improves our physical and mental health, adds years to our life, and life to our years
• But, new Deep Heat & Deep Freeze Wellness Tracker shows there is still room for improvement across all age groups, and there is still work to be done by health and exercise professionals to nudge the nation towards increased activity and better health
