{"id":630438,"date":"2024-11-14T09:51:29","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T14:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630438"},"modified":"2024-11-14T09:51:29","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T14:51:29","slug":"does-ibuprofen-help-sore-muscles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-ibuprofen-help-sore-muscles\/","title":{"rendered":"Does ibuprofen help sore muscles?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Injuries. Arthritis. Going bowling for the first time in ten years. Muscle soreness has a lot of causes, and almost as many solutions. But when you roll out of bed and your legs or back scream at you, your first thought might be to grab the ibuprofen. <\/span>Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)<\/span><\/a> are a popular pain reliever for everyone from Olympic champions to people who slept in an awkward position\u2014but does it truly work for sore muscles?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ibuprofen might help ease some of the muscle pain that comes after workouts, but it might not always be the best or most effective way. Here\u2019s why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Does ibuprofen help with sore muscles?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It is relatively safe to take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs for muscle soreness, and might be highly effective too, depending on the situation. For example, it\u2019s FDA approved to treat soreness and joint pain from inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and <\/span>research shows it\u2019s effective in the short-term<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the long-term, however, NSAIDs like ibuprofen are often only one part of the solution. For chronic conditions, <\/span>Bryan Wright, DPT<\/span><\/a>, physical therapist at <\/span>Wright Physical Therapy<\/span><\/a>, recommends \u201ctreatment plans that focus on targeted exercise, lifestyle changes, and physical therapy. Ibuprofen should only be used occasionally to control flare-ups under a doctor’s guidance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Body aches can also come from infections like the flu or the common cold. In these cases, <\/span>ibuprofen is a viable treatment<\/span><\/a>, and it comes with the bonus of reducing fevers too, if you have one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When dealing with pain from musculoskeletal injuries, <\/span>the American College of Physicians recommends<\/span><\/a> NSAIDs as a first-line intervention, and recent studies like <\/span>this one from 2017<\/span><\/a> support this claim\u2014at least for short-term treatment. This largely applies to acute muscle pain and inflammation, specifically from injuries or surgery, since NSAIDs are a preferable alternative to opioids, which can lead to abuse and addiction.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, some have expressed concern that NSAID use may actually inhibit the healing process. These drugs work by reducing the production of lipids called prostaglandins, which contribute to inflammation, pain, and blood clotting. The general concern is that these lipids also contribute to muscle healing. There is <\/span>conflicting evidence<\/span><\/a> on whether it slows bone healing, and some <\/span>other research<\/span><\/a> on its inhibition of muscle recovery, but researchers say more data is necessary to make a definitive claim.<\/span><\/p>\n

Multifaceted treatment\u2014which may or may not include NSAIDs\u2014is often more effective for recovery. \u201cIn my clinic, we use a combination of manual therapy, targeted stretches, and therapeutic exercise to speed healing and prevent re-injury,\u201d says Wright.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Does ibuprofen help with sore muscles from working out?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ibuprofen is so prevalent in the athletic and exercise communities that it\u2019s earned the nickname \u201cvitamin I.\u201d However, scientific communities have less confidence about its effectiveness for relieving delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This type of soreness \u201ccan occur when a person performs a vigorous new exercise, or increases weight\/repetitions too quickly,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Farah Hameed, MD<\/span><\/a>, associate chair for the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at <\/span>Columbia University Irving Medical Center<\/span><\/a>. It \u201cdoesn\u2019t happen immediately and can in some cases take 24-72 hours for symptoms to peak.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some older studies\u2014like <\/span>this one from 2003<\/span><\/a>\u2014have concluded that ibuprofen can relieve exercise-induced soreness in the short term. <\/span>Other research<\/span><\/a>, however, has found that it\u2019s only marginally better (if at all) than a placebo.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But long-term use might come with some risks. \u201cSome studies have suggested that it might be problematic to use NSAIDs for DOMS due to the fact that these medications may impair the adaptive response to exercise if used chronically,\u201d Dr. Hameed says. \u201cThere is no current evidence to suggest, however, that intermittent and\/or occasional use of NSAIDs for pain would be detrimental. If the symptoms of DOMS are severe and not happening frequently, it would be safe and potentially effective to use NSAIDs to help with symptoms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Many athletes, particularly endurance athletes, swear by ibuprofen as a pre-competition ritual. Some people claim it can reduce soreness and even improve performance, but research says otherwise. Studies have shown that preemptive ibuprofen hasn\u2019t demonstrated an ability to <\/span>prevent DOMS either<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> As for its effect on performance, some studies found <\/span>it offered no benefits<\/span><\/a>, while <\/span>others were inconclusive<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of taking ibuprofen for sore muscles<\/span><\/h2>\n

So why, then, would you take ibuprofen when you\u2019re sore? It does have a few appealing benefits for anyone dealing with muscle pain:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n