NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) including ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, celecoxib and indomethacin can decrease pain. Take them for the shortest possible time as they can be harmful.
Should you use NSAIDs? If you must get back to work ASAP then consider the risks vs. benefits. Talk to your pharmacist and physician (MD).
NSAIDs can Help Decrease Pain from:
- Acute ligament sprain – use for < 5 days. NSAIDs reduce pain and swelling so you can return to activity faster.
- Osteoarthritis (cartilage wear and tear)
- Delayed onset muscle soreness. When taken for several days before muscle damaging exercise, NSAIDs may reduce soreness. Take with caution as they can wreck your strength gains (see below).
- Muscle bruise (contusion). Short term use can decrease inflammation with no adverse effects on healing.
- Tendonitis – reduces inflammation and helps recovery. NSAIDs may do more harm than good for chronic tendon issues.
How NSAIDs Impact your Strength Gains
- Short-term low dose (400 mg ibuprofen) use may have no real impact on muscle strength or size.
- Longer term, higher doses (1,200 mg ibuprofen) may compromise muscle growth and, when training was preformed with all-out max reps, strength gains were also compromised.
- The elderly may benefit due to a decrease in inflammation from taking NSAIDs. Chronic inflammation, which is not uncommon in the elderly, impairs strength gains. NSAIDs help tame inflammation.
- After muscle injuries, NSAIDs can help reduce strength loss, soreness and muscle markers of inflammation, particularly when lower body muscles are injured.
Why do NSAIDs Impact Training (Strength) Gains?
NSAIDs work by blocking COX enzymes. COX enzymes alter prostaglandin synthesis, mediators of inflammation and pain. Prostaglandins have other actions in the body including regulation of muscle protein metabolism. Decreases in the prostaglandin PGF2α are associated with decreased protein synthesis and reduced muscle fiber size. In one study, 1200 mg ibuprofen blocked protein synthesis after resistance training. Other studies show signaling responses in muscle are decreased for hours or days after resistance training when NSAIDs are used.
References:
Arthritis Res Ther 2013;15(Suppl 3):S2.
Annals of Phys and Rehab Med 2010;278-288.
Am J Sports Med 2004;32(8):1856-9.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002;282(3):E551-6.
Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2018;222(2).
J Physiol 2009;587(Pt 24): 5799-5800.
Am J Sports Med 2018;46(1):224-233.
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