NSAIDs and Exercise

[CourtneyS]

Cycling and the field of exercise has many myth/truths, and I was wondering what people have heard about this:

More than one person has told me that it's advisable to take a NSAID before a big race or where you will be suffering, as to block much of the associated pain. 

I decided to research this, and I found this not to be true, at least via a quick 3 research articles from this link http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/medicationanddrugs/a/NSAID_endurance.htm.

Anyone been taught this or heard about it?

Some of the side effects are hyponatremia/ decreased kidney function, and increased muscle damage.  Seems self-defeating to me.

[Aiar(Izzy)]

Yes, Doctor McFarline talked about it for a whole class. It has no affect during a race, after a race it can help with recovery BUT can cause a farther injury. The inflammation of the muscles is there to prevent you from moving for a reason, and the reason is that you don't want to over extend a muscle and rip it (just one example of many).

ibuprofen (Advil) has shown to help with blood circulation (for recovery) but the benefit doesn't out weigh the possible danger (and again thats one of the bits of information that I remember from that class)

[number77]

Acutely, it may induce hyponatremia.  Chronically, likely something more serious.

[Aiar(Izzy)]

How would it affect the Na levels in the system?

[number77]

http://pdfcast.org/download/document-2.pdf

[Aiar(Izzy)]

wow interesting, thanks.