No pain, no gain is true of stunt work, and stuntwoman Danielle Burgio has had her share of injuries.
She broke a rib while filming “Matrix Revolutions” and gashed her chin on a rooftop as Jennifer Garner’s double in “Daredevil.” (The scene didn’t even make the final cut.) To counteract common injuries and ailments, here are some of her medicine-cabinet staples from her book “The Stuntwoman’s Workout”:
Arnica: For bruising and soreness. It improves circulation and comes in pill, gel, cream and oil forms.
Biofreeze: An anti-inflammatory gel with a soothing analgesic effect. It works like ice for anything that’s swollen.
Chinese remedies: Dit da jow is a liquid antiseptic that she uses for treating strains, sprains, swelling and bruising. Ching Wan Hung is a soothing balm she applies to burns.
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Emergen-C packets: She pops these powdered packets high in vitamin C and electrolytes into her water bottle before working out.
Tegaderm: This bandage seals a wound and allows the body to quickly heal itself. She’s found it to be a good preventive against scarring. It’s available over the counter, but sometimes pharmacies keep it behind the counter. Just ask.