• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Don’t Use Aspirin or NSAIDs for Muscle Pain from Exercise

by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Some athletes and exercisers take pain medication (aspirin or NSAIDs) because they think it may prevent muscle soreness or will help them to heal faster after a workout. However, taking pain medicines before or during exercise will not block pain, help you to exercise longer or recover faster from exercise.

They can increase risk for bleeding and damage to muscles, tendons or kidneys, and they can also delay muscle recovery from exercise. I believe that you should not take aspirin or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) before, during, or soon after exercising unless your doctor specifically recommends that you need to take them.

• Aspirin increases risk of bleeding into your stomach, brain, or any area that is bumped in an accident. Aspirin kills as many people by causing major bleeds as it saves by preventing heart attacks (JAMA, Jan 22, 2019;321(3):277-287). Caution about stopping daily aspirin: Do not stop taking aspirin suddenly. If you want to stop taking aspirin after taking it for a while, your doctor will tell you how to gradually taper your dose.

• NSAIDs do not block the muscle burning you feel when you exercise intensely (Med Sci in Sports and Exercise, Aug 1997;29(8):0999-1012). When you exercise intensely, you run low on oxygen which causes lactic acid to accumulate in muscles to cause muscle burning. The only way that you can stop this muscle burning during intense exercise is to slow down to allow lactic acid to be cleared.

• NSAIDs taken the next day may reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), but do not increase the rate of recovery from exercise (J Strength Cond Res, Feb 2003;17(1):53-9).

• NSAIDs reduce new muscle protein synthesis after intense exercise (Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, Mar 2002;282(3):E551-6), and reduce muscle growth after intense exercise (Sports Med, Dec 1, 2012;42(12):1017-28).

• Aspirin decreases protein synthesis after exercise (J Biol Chem, April 2007;282(14):10164-71).

• Taking NSAIDs after injuries delays healing (South African Medical Journal, Jun 6, 1995;85:517-522), and taking NSAIDs for several weeks after a fracture delays the healing of broken bones (J Orthop Trauma, May 1995;9:392-400).

• NSAIDs may increase risk of low blood sodium levels in endurance events.

• NSAIDs can constrict arteries that carry blood to the kidneys to increase risk for kidney damage.

• NSAIDs taken long term may increase tendon and muscle damage from repetitive exercise (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1995; 23:119-123).

• NSAIDs may increase joint damage when taken during exercise by people who have osteoarthritis (J. Rheumatol, 1995;22(10):1941–1946).

Common types and brands of NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Ketoprofen) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn).

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fred says

    May 16, 2019 at 8:11 am

    My wife has chronic pain and the doctors prescribed NSAIDS for relief for a lot of years, they failed to mentioned possible kidney damage, she now only has 43% kidney function, even though the doctor said that percentage is not a problem it still bothers the both of us and now she wishes they had prescribed something else. So restrict the use of NSAIDS as much as possible, and don’t take 800 mg of the stuff even though doctors will prescribe that higher dosage, keep it to 200 mg and limit its use; if you have a prescription for that stuff I would go back to the doctor and see if there is something safer. I’m now leery of even short term use, but I have a reason for being leery, so maybe I’m being overly paranoid about it.

    Reply
  2. Bill says

    May 16, 2019 at 9:48 am

    Should Tylenol and it’s equivalents also be avoided?

    Reply
    • Jack says

      May 16, 2019 at 10:29 am

      I don’t know what affect Tylenol/Ibuprofen has on muscle/protein synthasis. but in terms if Kidney function, Tylenon is metabolized in the liver, so it is “safe” in that regard… as long as you don’t have liver problems…

      Reply
  3. Lise Neer says

    May 16, 2019 at 2:29 pm

    My sister, who competes in masters track & field throwing events, recommended Wobenzym for muscle soreness. I take it after a hard ride, and sometimes remember to prior to a long/hard ride or workout. It helps, and I’ve cut way back on my use of Ibuprofen and other OTC pain relievers.

    Reply
  4. William Wightman says

    May 23, 2019 at 3:13 pm

    A co-worker of mine used NSAIDs for relief during and after ultra cycling and randonneuring events for many years and has damaged spleen and kidneys to the point where his doctors say he should never take another NSAID for the rest of his life. He still rides but is limited to centuries or less.

    Reply
  5. Stephen says

    December 16, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    Another irrelevant And incorrect arcticle
    To the author: what makes you create nonsense…article.?
    It’s all about dosage…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Anti-Aging: VO2 Max
  • Tackling an Epic Climb – Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona
  • Move Around Before and After You Eat
  • Cycology Cycling Apparel Quick Review

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1054

Newsletter Issue No. 1053

Newsletter Issue No. 1052

Newsletter Issue No. 1051

Newsletter Issue No. 1050

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...