Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy after eccentric exercise in healthy older individuals.
BACKGROUND
Aging is associated with greater susceptibility to muscle injury and soreness after exercise. Although elderly persons regularly consume nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it is not clear that NSAIDs alleviate muscle dysfunction and/or inflammation following injurious exercise.


METHODS
In this double-blind crossover study, 10 men and 5 women (aged 60 +/- 2 years, mean +/- SE) consumed naproxen sodium or placebo for 10 days after performing 64 unilateral eccentric (ECC) knee extensions using 75% of the ECC 1-repetition maximum. Strength was measured before, 3 days after, and 10 days after each bout. Injury and soreness were assessed using magnetic resonance images of m. quadriceps femoris (QF) and a visual analog scale.


RESULTS
Three days after exercise, concentric strength loss was greater for placebo (-32 +/- 9%) than NSAID (-6 +/- 8%; p =.0064). Likewise, isometric strength declined less for NSAID than placebo (-12 +/- 7% vs -24 +/- 4%; p =.0213), and thigh soreness while rising from a chair was greater for placebo (p < or =.0393) than NSAID (43 +/- 7 mm vs 26 +/- 7 mm). QF cross-sectional area (cm(2)) showing elevated T(2) was 27% and 35% greater (p < or =.0096) for placebo on Days 3 and 10, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Naproxen sodium attenuated muscle injury, strength loss, and soreness following ECC exercise in older individuals and may be beneficial during the early stages of increased physical activity.
Baldwin
A C
AC
Department of Exercise Science, The University of Georgia, 300 River Road, Athens, GA 30602-3654, USA.
Stevenson
S W
SW
Dudley
G A
GA
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D009288:Naproxen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009288:Naproxen