Lindsey Vonn, in danger of missing out on the Olympics because of a shin injury, has taken to some unusual tactics to heal herself.
She is spreading cheese on her shin.
According to CNN.com, the skiier has been spreading an Austrian cheese called topfen on her injured shin in order to accelerate the healing process.
Though it isn't scientifically proven to heal injuries, it provides Vonn with peace of mind — and that, according to athletic trainer and former Olympic trainer Ralph Reiff, is what matters.
"Regardless of whether it's a home remedy or passed down from generations or something someone thought of, if the athlete believes in it, there is significant value in that," Reiff told CNN.com. "If the person who is receiving that treatment believes that it's part of the puzzle of getting better, therefore that athlete has faith. I am a firm believer that it has value."
Vonn injured her shin on Feb. 2 while training in Austria and is desperate for a remedy that will allow her to compete in this year's Winter Games.
"I would imagine the cold nature of food does help, just like an ice pack," said Dr. C. David Geier Jr., director of sports medicine at the of South Carolina. "To be fair, I can't imagine there's good research that the salt in cheese or any kind of food would take the fluid out any faster than any bag of ice. Cheese is not the worst idea I've ever heard, it would mold right to the leg. I hope it's working."
