A new cop of high tech recovery tools are gaining popularity among athletes.
Firefly Recovery has a new tool to help athletes recover from the strain put their bodies during exercise. According to fireflyrecovery.com, Firefly, a small band that goes around the upper leg, sends small electrical pulses that stimulate the peroneal nerve, which increases blood flow to ease discomfort, speed recovery, and boost energy. This stimulation, according to the website, causing a subtle muscle contraction known as the “Firefly Flutter,” which naturally boosts blood flow, speeding recovery and significantly reducing muscle soreness.
Firefly took off after the product appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in March, 2025. They struck $500,000 with 5% equity for hosts and investors Lari Greener and Rashaun Williams.
On their websites they have a variety of different teams athletes and people who use the recovery tool, including Yale’s baseball team.
“We utilize firefly for both upper and lower extremity recovery predominantly on the road,” the testimonial reads. “Long bus trips, flights, post-game meals etc. you can see our student athletes with the firefly device on. The versatility and convenience of having the device for both upper and lower extremity recovery, a device that is easy to pack, long lasting and charging not required are huge upsides that our guy’s love.”
Riley Stocker, a junior boarding student from Verona, N.J., recently bought the Firefly.
“I just got them because they were all over my TikTok and Instagram,” Riley, who field and ice hockey as well as lacrosse, explained. “I wanted to try them out to see if there are any benefits to my recovery.”
Riley hopes to see benefits from the recovery tool.
“My hopes are that it reduces my soreness and makes my muscles and body better recovered and more ready for my games,” she said.
Hyperice is another new recovery company; their product is the Normatec, a dynamic air compression massage that helps your legs feel refreshed faster.
Normatec 3 Legs is a dynamic air compression massage that claims to help legs feel refreshed faster.
Zola Piekarski, a senior boarding student from Concord, Mass., uses recovery tools to benefit her playing.
“I don’t use them all that often but I definitely like Normatecs,” Zola, a three sport varsity athlete in field hockey, ice hockey, and track, said. “I feel like they help my legs recover faster especially after tough practices and games, and during a playoff stretch they are really helpful … [they] help soreness and circulation.”
“I do think they are an effective way to recovering,” she added. “I don’t know all of the science behind them but, from what I do know I think that they do a good job of helping muscles recover by improving circulation.”
Zola feels the Normatecs benefit her mentally as much as physically.
“I think if I have a really tough practice or I have to prepare for a really big game the night before I will use Normtecs and it’s a mental piece in my head, lke, ‘Okay these are helping me recover and get ready for tomorrow,'” she said. ‘”The next day at your game it’s in your head, ‘Oh my legs feel great and I’m ready to go.'”
Nora Curtis, a Williston alum currently playing hockey at Cornell uses the Firefly recovery tool frequently to benefit her recovery.
“We have long bus rides,” she said. “I will put them on and they will help with bus legs and stimulating blood flow. It will help me be ready and my legs are not heavy. If I have classes before games I’ll put them on and they will get my legs circulated.”
Nora’s hockey team at Cornell all got Fireflies.
“I think they are worth it and I think they do have benefits,” she said, adding that she “can feel the difference when I use them and when I don’t. I would recommend them to my peers.”
