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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in the treatment of an acute muscle injury.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rahusen, FTG; Weinhold, PS; Almekinders, LC
Published in: Am J Sports Med
December 2004

BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are frequently used to treat muscle injuries in athletes. It is not known whether the anti-inflammatory effects of these drugs are important or whether their effectiveness is a result of their central analgesic effect. HYPOTHESIS: The effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are no different than the effects of an analgesic (acetaminophen) without anti-inflammatory action in an experimental, acute muscle contusion model. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled animal study. METHODS: A standardized, unilateral, nonpenetrating injury was created to the tibialis anterior muscle of 96 adult male mice. Four treatment groups were used: group 1, placebo treatment; group 2, treatment with rofecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with cyclooxygenase-2 selectivity, and treatment after the injury; group 3, rofecoxib treatment starting 24 hours before the injury; and group 4, acetaminophen treatment after the injury. The muscle and the contralateral normal muscle were evaluated at 2, 5, and 7 days after injury by grading of gait, wet weight as a measure of edema, and histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Group 1 had significantly more gait disturbances at day 2 than all other groups (P < .05). No differences were found at days 5 and 7. Wet weights showed an increase at day 2 in group 1 (P < .01). Again, no differences were found at days 5 and 7. Histology revealed similar inflammatory changes at day 2 in all groups, with regeneration of muscle fibers at days 5 and 7. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that rofecoxib as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and acetaminophen as a non-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug analgesic have similar effects. The lack of differences in wet weights and histology suggests that the anti-inflammatory effects of rofecoxib are not an important feature of its action. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The routine use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in muscle injuries may need to be critically evaluated because low-cost and low-risk analgesics may be just as effective.

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Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

0363-5465

Publication Date

December 2004

Volume

32

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1856 / 1859

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sulfones
  • Regeneration
  • Orthopedics
  • Organ Size
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
  • Models, Animal
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Male
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Rahusen, F. T. G., Weinhold, P. S., & Almekinders, L. C. (2004). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in the treatment of an acute muscle injury. Am J Sports Med, 32(8), 1856–1859. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504266069
Rahusen, Frank T. G., Paul S. Weinhold, and Louis C. Almekinders. “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in the treatment of an acute muscle injury.Am J Sports Med 32, no. 8 (December 2004): 1856–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504266069.
Rahusen FTG, Weinhold PS, Almekinders LC. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in the treatment of an acute muscle injury. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Dec;32(8):1856–9.
Rahusen, Frank T. G., et al. “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in the treatment of an acute muscle injury.Am J Sports Med, vol. 32, no. 8, Dec. 2004, pp. 1856–59. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/0363546504266069.
Rahusen FTG, Weinhold PS, Almekinders LC. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in the treatment of an acute muscle injury. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Dec;32(8):1856–1859.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

0363-5465

Publication Date

December 2004

Volume

32

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1856 / 1859

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sulfones
  • Regeneration
  • Orthopedics
  • Organ Size
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
  • Models, Animal
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Male