The isolated and combined effects of selected physical activity and ibuprofen on delayed-onset muscle soreness

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 23; no. 8; pp. 843 - 850
• Main Authors: Rahnama, N, Rahmani-Nia, F, Ebrahim, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.08.2005; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - therapeutic use; Athletic Injuries - blood; Athletic Injuries - complications; Athletic Injuries - drug therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Combined Modality Therapy - methods; Creatine kinase; Creatine Kinase - blood; delayed-onset muscle soreness; Elbow - physiology; Elbow - physiopathology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Ibuprofen - therapeutic use; Male; maximal eccentric contraction; Motor Activity - drug effects; Motor Activity - physiology; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Pain - drug therapy; Pain - etiology; range of motion; Range of Motion, Articular - drug effects; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Human; Drug; Motion; Enzyme; Creatine kinase; Transferases; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Eccentric; Sport; maximal eccentric contraction; Ibuprofen; range of motion; delayed-onset muscle soreness
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640410400021989

Delayed-onset muscle soreness refers to the skeletal muscle pain that is experienced following eccentric exercise. The aim of the present study was to examine the physiological effects of physical activity with or without ibuprofen on delayed onset muscle soreness. Forty-four non-athletic male volunteers (age 24.3 ± 2.4 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: physical activity (n  =  11), ibuprofen (n  =  11), physical activity and ibuprofen (combination, n  =  11), or control (n  =  11). The physical activity programme comprised 5 min of walking and jogging, 10 min of static stretching of the hands and shoulder girdle, and 5 min of concentric movements with sub-maximal contractions. The total amount of ibuprofen consumed by a single individual was 2800 mg; this was taken from 1 h before the eccentric actions up to 48 h after it. Delayed onset muscle soreness was induced by performing 70 eccentric contractions of the biceps muscle of the non-dominant side on a modified arm curl machine. Perceived muscle soreness, maximal eccentric contraction, creatine kinase enzyme activity and elbow range of motion were assessed 1 h before and 1, 24 and 48 h after the eccentric actions. The results indicated that, after the eccentric actions, soreness increased (P < 0.001) across time in all groups, with the highest values being recorded at 24 h. At 24 and 48 h, greater soreness (P  < 0.001) was observed in the control group than in the physical activity and combination groups. After the eccentric actions, creatine kinase increased and was elevated (P < 0.001) compared with baseline in all groups, with values returning to baseline in the physical activity and combination groups by 48 h. However, creatine kinase in the control and ibuprofen groups was still significantly higher than at baseline after 48 h. Creatine kinase was higher (P < 0.001) in the control group than in physical activity and combination groups at 24 and 48 h. There was also a reduction (P < 0.001) in elbow range of motion across time. This reduction in elbow range of motion was greater (P < 0.001) in the control and ibuprofen groups than in the physical activity and combination groups at 1, 24 and 48 h. The reduction in maximum eccentric contraction was greater (P < 0.001) in the control and ibuprofen groups than in the physical activity group at 24 and 48 h and the combination group at 48 h. In conclusion, the results add to our understanding of the effects of physical activity and the combination of physical activity and ibuprofen in reducing the severity of muscle soreness induced by eccentric exercise. Physical activity conducted before eccentric exercise alleviates muscle soreness. Our results indicate that physical activity with or without ibuprofen helps to prevent delayed-onset muscle soreness.