Performance enhancer?

Are you an Ibuprofen junkie?

It’s pretty common – okay, rampant – among endurance athletes, especially distance runners. Common sense tells you that less inflammation is a good thing, and surely less pain is a performance-enhancer – why wouldn’t you pop a few before hard workouts and races?

A study has come out that suggests otherwise – that inflammation is necessary for muscular repair and that NSAIDS aren’t actually that effective in pain relief during endurance events anyways. The New York Times, our favorite publication to reference, has published an article on this very subject; read it and reevaluate your stance on the controversial “Vitamin I.”

~ by allisonmacsas on November 10, 2009.