With this knee thing I’ve been dealing with, it has become my common practice to pop an Advil before my workout.  I figured its anti-inflammatory properties could only be good when used in combination with RICE afterwards to help alleviate some of my discomfort.  Turns out this might not be such a great idea.

Advil belongs to the family of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs classified as NSAIDs.  Regular asprin, and ibuprofen products like Motrin, and Aleve are other common OTC names for these products.  Essentially, NSAIDS prevent the bodies production of prostaglandins – substances naturally produced by the body that act as mediators for a variety of functions including protecting the stomach lining, regulating blood pressure and of course, mediating pain and inflammation.

Several studies have been conducted on the use of these drugs and athletic performance – none of which have indicated that there is any benefit in taking ibuprofen prior to working out; and there are several indications that taking these drugs may actually put athletes at risk by masking the pain that indicates serious injury.

Further, studies with ultra marathoners have shown that the use of NSAIDs during events can contribute to poor fluid transportation and actually lead to hyponatremia (water intoxication) or dehydration due to the drug’s ability to alter kidney functioning. 

Most researchers agree that use of NSAIDs should be restricted to moderate use after very intense exercise and that proper hydration, stretching regimens and nutrition may actually be more helpful (and safer) in reducing soreness after exercise.

Mmm…a quart of water please, hold the Advil.

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Tags: NSAIDs, pain relievers, performance and pain, advil, motrin, ibuprofen, asprin, hyponatremia, dehydration, anti-inflammatory

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tru true, so true. I take a 'med' at the very lasy resort, more so because I like my body taking care of itself rather than the possible side affects of a med. I think the pain makes me feel human though :). However, I do take them when I feel there is no alternative or when I get an ocular migraine at work and know I will have to be there 6 more hours! Posted by: Betty on Oct 31, 2008 at 09:12 AM