Medical Disclaimer: Medicine is serious business, so always follow the advice of your doctor.
Now that we have that out of the way…
Ever been so sore after a workout that you feel the need to pop an Advil? We’re here to put a stop to that.
You should never take an anti-inflammatory drug because it weakens tendons and ligaments and inhibits recovery. The soreness you feel after a workout is a result of swelling due to micro-damage in the muscles. This inflammatory response is what makes you better, so taking an anti-inflammatory is counter productive because it delays healing.
What should you do instead? Well, take tylenol/acetaminophen if you’re super-desperate but it has been shown to cause liver failure, especially when combined with alcohol, and we all know how we like to party at DCCF. Better methods include compression and active recovery… so, purchase some Voodoo Floss Bands or Voodoo X Bands and compress your soft tissues. Wrap the inflamed area then contract and relax the surrounding muscles, taking them through a full range of motion. As far as active recovery, think about moving what you can, when you can. Go through a full warm-up to get your tissues moving well again. Lastly, look at your nutrition (sign up for our DCCF/ETP Nutrition Program!), fluid intake, contrast showers, stretching, massage, elevating the affected area, fish oil, etc… as all of those factors can have an effect on recovery.
So, in summary, anti-inflammatory drugs have no place in the daily life of an athlete. Got it? Good.