The Effects Of Nsaids On Performance And Muscle Soreness: A Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Double-blinded, Cross-over Study

PURPOSE: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are classified by their degree of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition (COX-1 versus COX-2). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a COX-1 inhibitor (flurbiprofen, FLU), a COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib, CEL) and a non-selective COX inhibitor (ibuprofen, IBU) or a placebo (PLA) on muscle soreness and performance when taken prior to plyometric exercise. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, counter-balanced order, 12 participants (10 male, 2 females; age 25 ± 6y), performed four trials, separated by ≥1-week, each consisting of 10 sets of 10 plyometric jumps at 40% 1RM. Two hours before each exercise trial, participants consumed either CEL (200 mg), IBU (800 mg), FLU (100 mg) or PLA. Total work (joules) and heart rate (HR, bpm) were measured during exercise. Maximum voluntary contraction force (MVC, Newtons), vertical jump height (VJH, cm), and muscle soreness (MS, visual analog scale in cm) were measured before exercise (PRE), +4 h, and + 24 h post-exercise. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA for HR and total work, and two-way repeated measures ANOVA for MS, VJH, and MVC. If significant effects were found (p < 0.05), Tukey’s post-hoc analysis was used. All data are presented as mean ± SD. RESULTS: We found no differences in total work (PLA 5147 ± 1234; IBU 5299 ± 1226; CEL 5219 ± 1463; FLU 5298 ± 1119 J, p > 0.05) or HR (PLA 143 ± 15; IBU 141 ± 14; CEL 137 ± 17; FLU 142 ± 15 b/min, p > 0.05). The +4 h MS and + 24 h MS were higher than PRE (p < 0.05) for all treatments but there was no difference between treatments. The MVC decreased (p < 0.05) from PRE to +4 h for PLA (-189 ± 496), IBU (-193 ± 527), and FLU (-179 ± 539), but not CEL (-28 ± 577, p > 0.05). FLU MVC remained suppressed at +24 h compared to PRE (-187 ± 508, p < 0.05). There was no treatment by time effect for VJH (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: While none of the NSAIDs mitigated muscle soreness, CEL did attenuate strength losses following plyometric exercise, and FLU suppressed strength recovery for at least 24 h after exercise. However, none of these translated to the vertical jump. Therefore, performance recovery may be differentially regulated by COX-1 vs COX-2 inhibition. The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Military Operational Medicine Program