Same thing happened with my amateur football team last season when we ramped up training. My knees got super stiff after matches and ice packs were becoming a hassle to keep on. Bought a knee massager after a teammate recommended it and it honestly made recovery way easier. The heat plus vibration loosens up the stiffness right after games and inflammation goes down faster than with just ice. I use it for 20 minutes post-match and sleep better because my knees aren't throbbing. Got mine from knee massager uk because they had the real heat therapy model with different intensity levels, not a basic vibrating wrap that barely does anything. The key is using it consistently after every match, not just waiting for pain to hit. After a couple weeks my knees felt more resilient and I wasn't as sore the next day. For football players it's become part of my post-game routine.