Do you take nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen regularly before competition to avoid pain? Dr Bob doesn’t -although you might argue he doesn’t compete as such- but according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine this is very common amongst athletes in a variety of sports. A quarter of world cup players took these drugs before 2 /3 of matches and one in ten before every game.
But why is this undesirable? NSAIDs block enzymes that are involved in blood vessels ,leading to more heart attacks and strokes, and the kidney, reducing renal function. They also reduce healing of soft tissue and bone injuries. The is also evidence that NSAIDs impair development of collagen in muscles, tendons and ligaments as a result of training and so may lead to more injuries.
Dr Bob knows though that fell runners are made of sterner stuff and unlike footballers don’t live in fear of a tumble.