Union City Messenger Article

UC native has seen up-close help of recovery drink for all!

Posted: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 5:35 pm
From his experience as a high school and college football coach as well as his current job as a scout with the New York Giants, Union City native Donnie Etheridge is well aware that the body needs replenishing after any activity. He’s found a method of aiding and expediting the process that isn’t solely aimed at athletes.

Etheridge has partnered with Dan Dodson — who earned a doctorate in health and human performance from Oklahoma State — and who created Performance Rehydrate Recovery (pr2) Systems.

“PR2 Systems is the perfect recovery drink for all sports and activities as well as for anyone who needs hydration after any kind of intense labor,” said Etheridge, a graduate of UCHS and the University of Tennessee at Martin. “Its benefits are not just restricted to athletes. Any type of indoor or outdoor work where you have physical exertion, your body needs to replenish certain things. They’re all in this drink.”

The recovery drink, which is available locally at Kizer Pharmacy or can be purchased online at www.pr2systems.com, is now available in five different forms for both men and women.

“Through my career as an athletic trainer and while working on my PhD, I realized more and more how prevalent overtraining is in the athletic training community,” Dodson said. “Research for my doctorate was centered around overtraining and how to treat it but, better yet, how to prevent it. I have stated when working with coaches and athletes that a better term for overtraining is ‘under-recovery’. “Whether it was while working with Olympic track and field athletes, wrestlers, professional endurance athletes, college basketball players or high school football players starting back into two-or three-a-day practices in the hot August sun, I became more aware of the need for a high quality, great tasting recovery product that helped rehydrate and replenish the body’s stores of important fluids, vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrates.” At the time, there was nothing of the kind on the market and Dodson — who also is a former athletic trainer — began work on what would become PR2. The beverage’s taste is what sets it apart, he said.

And it was a top priority when the product line was being researched and formulated prior to its release to the general public “Taste is a big issue with nutritional supplements, especially supplements with any significant amount of protein,” Dodson insisted. “It is a top priority of PR2 and we receive countless comments on its amazing taste. “Through my years as an athletic trainer on the professional and collegiate levels, I have worked with many athletes who experience intolerance to milk-based supplement drinks. PR2 is the answer for these athletes as it is lactose-free.” Four of the brands of PR2 come in powder form and the addition of water completes the drink. A fifth form of PR2 comes in capsule form.

For starters, there’s the “College Elite Protein,” which promises to give the body the amino acids to assist athletic recovery and performance during periods of intense training and competition. Already, the University of Oklahoma football and basketball teams are current PR2 users as are the Baylor University hoops and gridiron squads. Texas Tech’s football program has also began providing PR2 to its players this fall, as have both the football and basketball programs at Indiana.

Then, there’s the Low Carb and Less Sugar Protein formula — lauded as able to protect and assist in the growth and repair of muscle tissue as well as improve strength and help reduce body fat.

Standing alone is a “Women’s Formula Protein” designed to assist active females in the prevention of overuse and repair of soft tissue injuries, reduce body fat and boost immune system function.

The other two formulas on the market are the “Amino” drink and the “Muscle and Joint Recovery Capsules.” The “Amino” beverage is a blend of branched amino acids designed to enhance muscle and joint recovery and help in the recovering from workout and activities that drain precious energy stores.” The M&J Recovery pills aid in muscle and joint recovery and it is suggested they be used as a companion to either of the PR2 “Protein” formulas or “Amino” drink.

More information on the product can be obtained at www.pr2systems.com or by calling (405) 513-1195.