Weight Training and Analgesics

[NYCmitch25]

Why pain killers can stop muscle growth dead in its tracks...

Over-the-counter pain killers (such as ibuprofen) are a popular way to ease the pain and soreness that manifests itself 24-48 hours after a tough workout.

However, what most people don't realize is that high doses of these pain killers can "blunt" the normal rise in protein synthesis that occurs after exercise. In other words, while they can control the pain, regular use of these pain killers could put the brakes on muscle growth.

Pain killers
Protein synthesis is one important factor controlling the rate of muscle growth. In simple terms, your muscles grow larger when protein synthesis is greater than protein breakdown.

Think of your muscles like a bath. Water coming into the bath is known as protein synthesis. Water leaving the bath is known as protein breakdown. When there's more water coming into the bath than there is going out, you'll end up with bigger muscles.

One of the ways that pain killers such as ibuprofen work is to suppress the synthesis of substances known as prostaglandins. However, these very same prostaglandins also have a profound effect on muscle growth.

Some evidence linking prostaglandins to a reduced rate of protein synthesis comes from a trial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

A group of male subjects with an average age of 25 were assigned to one of three groups. All groups performed 10-14 sets of 10 eccentric repetitions for the muscles on the front of the thigh.

• After completing the workout, group one received the maximal over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen (1200 milligrams daily).

• Group two was given acetaminophen (4000 milligrams daily).

• The third group received a placebo (a "dummy" supplement) that contained no active ingredients.

When muscle samples were analyzed 24 hours after exercise, levels of a prostaglandin called PGF2 increased by an average of 77% in the group using the placebo. This represents the normal response to exercise. However, PGF2 levels dropped by 1% and 14% in the ibuprofen and acetaminophen groups respectively.

Of course, this was only a short-term study. The extent to which the prolonged use of pain killers affects muscle growth over a period of several weeks or months is open to debate.

However, while the occasional use of pain killers isn't likely to cause a problem, they're certainly not something you should use too often.

If you do want to avoid feeling sore after exercise, the best way is simply to ease your way into a new training program gradually.



Why pain killers can stop muscle growth dead in its tracks...
Over-the-counter pain killers (such as ibuprofen) are a popular way to ease the pain and soreness that manifests itself 24-48 hours after a tough workout.

However, what most people don't realize is that high doses of these pain killers can "blunt" the normal rise in protein synthesis that occurs after exercise. In other words, while they can control the pain, regular use of these pain killers could put the brakes on muscle growth.

Pain killers
Protein synthesis is one important factor controlling the rate of muscle growth. In simple terms, your muscles grow larger when protein synthesis is greater than protein breakdown.

Think of your muscles like a bath. Water coming into the bath is known as protein synthesis. Water leaving the bath is known as protein breakdown. When there's more water coming into the bath than there is going out, you'll end up with bigger muscles.

One of the ways that pain killers such as ibuprofen work is to suppress the synthesis of substances known as prostaglandins. However, these very same prostaglandins also have a profound effect on muscle growth.

Some evidence linking prostaglandins to a reduced rate of protein synthesis comes from a trial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

A group of male subjects with an average age of 25 were assigned to one of three groups. All groups performed 10-14 sets of 10 eccentric repetitions for the muscles on the front of the thigh.

• After completing the workout, group one received the maximal over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen (1200 milligrams daily).

• Group two was given acetaminophen (4000 milligrams daily).

• The third group received a placebo (a "dummy" supplement) that contained no active ingredients.

When muscle samples were analyzed 24 hours after exercise, levels of a prostaglandin called PGF2 increased by an average of 77% in the group using the placebo. This represents the normal response to exercise. However, PGF2 levels dropped by 1% and 14% in the ibuprofen and acetaminophen groups respectively.

Of course, this was only a short-term study. The extent to which the prolonged use of pain killers affects muscle growth over a period of several weeks or months is open to debate.

However, while the occasional use of pain killers isn't likely to cause a problem, they're certainly not something you should use too often.

If you do want to avoid feeling sore after exercise, the best way is simply to ease your way into a new training program gradually.

Why pain killers can stop muscle growth dead in its tracks...
Over-the-counter pain killers (such as ibuprofen) are a popular way to ease the pain and soreness that manifests itself 24-48 hours after a tough workout.

However, what most people don't realize is that high doses of these pain killers can "blunt" the normal rise in protein synthesis that occurs after exercise. In other words, while they can control the pain, regular use of these pain killers could put the brakes on muscle growth.

Pain killers
Protein synthesis is one important factor controlling the rate of muscle growth. In simple terms, your muscles grow larger when protein synthesis is greater than protein breakdown.

Think of your muscles like a bath. Water coming into the bath is known as protein synthesis. Water leaving the bath is known as protein breakdown. When there's more water coming into the bath than there is going out, you'll end up with bigger muscles.

One of the ways that pain killers such as ibuprofen work is to suppress the synthesis of substances known as prostaglandins. However, these very same prostaglandins also have a profound effect on muscle growth.

Some evidence linking prostaglandins to a reduced rate of protein synthesis comes from a trial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

A group of male subjects with an average age of 25 were assigned to one of three groups. All groups performed 10-14 sets of 10 eccentric repetitions for the muscles on the front of the thigh.

• After completing the workout, group one received the maximal over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen (1200 milligrams daily).

• Group two was given acetaminophen (4000 milligrams daily).

• The third group received a placebo (a "dummy" supplement) that contained no active ingredients.

When muscle samples were analyzed 24 hours after exercise, levels of a prostaglandin called PGF2 increased by an average of 77% in the group using the placebo. This represents the normal response to exercise. However, PGF2 levels dropped by 1% and 14% in the ibuprofen and acetaminophen groups respectively.

Of course, this was only a short-term study. The extent to which the prolonged use of pain killers affects muscle growth over a period of several weeks or months is open to debate.

However, while the occasional use of pain killers isn't likely to cause a problem, they're certainly not something you should use too often.

If you do want to avoid feeling sore after exercise, the best way is simply to ease your way into a new training program gradually.



Why pain killers can stop muscle growth dead in its tracks...
Over-the-counter pain killers (such as ibuprofen) are a popular way to ease the pain and soreness that manifests itself 24-48 hours after a tough workout.

However, what most people don't realize is that high doses of these pain killers can "blunt" the normal rise in protein synthesis that occurs after exercise. In other words, while they can control the pain, regular use of these pain killers could put the brakes on muscle growth.

Pain killers
Protein synthesis is one important factor controlling the rate of muscle growth. In simple terms, your muscles grow larger when protein synthesis is greater than protein breakdown.

Think of your muscles like a bath. Water coming into the bath is known as protein synthesis. Water leaving the bath is known as protein breakdown. When there's more water coming into the bath than there is going out, you'll end up with bigger muscles.

One of the ways that pain killers such as ibuprofen work is to suppress the synthesis of substances known as prostaglandins. However, these very same prostaglandins also have a profound effect on muscle growth.

Some evidence linking prostaglandins to a reduced rate of protein synthesis comes from a trial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

A group of male subjects with an average age of 25 were assigned to one of three groups. All groups performed 10-14 sets of 10 eccentric repetitions for the muscles on the front of the thigh.

• After completing the workout, group one received the maximal over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen (1200 milligrams daily).

• Group two was given acetaminophen (4000 milligrams daily).

• The third group received a placebo (a "dummy" supplement) that contained no active ingredients.

When muscle samples were analyzed 24 hours after exercise, levels of a prostaglandin called PGF2 increased by an average of 77% in the group using the placebo. This represents the normal response to exercise. However, PGF2 levels dropped by 1% and 14% in the ibuprofen and acetaminophen groups respectively.

Of course, this was only a short-term study. The extent to which the prolonged use of pain killers affects muscle growth over a period of several weeks or months is open to debate.

However, while the occasional use of pain killers isn't likely to cause a problem, they're certainly not something you should use too often.

If you do want to avoid feeling sore after exercise, the best way is simply to ease your way into a new training program gradually.

Reference
Trappe, T.A., Fluckey, J.D., White, F., Lambert, C.P., & Evans, W.J. (2001). Skeletal muscle PGF(2)(alpha) and PGE(2) in response to eccentric resistance exercise: influence of ibuprofen acetaminophen. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86, 5067-5070

also
http://www.ast-ss.com/articles/article.asp?AID=118 - BioFreeze (alternative)
http://www.warriorfx.com/science/analgesics.sht

[NYCmitch25]

more...

We examined the effect of two commonly consumed over-the-counter analgesics, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, on muscle protein synthesis and soreness after high-intensity eccentric resistance exercise. Twenty-four males (25 ± 3 yr, 180 ± 6 cm, 81 ± 6 kg, and 17 ± 8% body fat) were assigned to one of three groups that received either the maximal over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen (IBU; 1,200 mg/day), acetaminophen (ACET; 4,000 mg/day), or a placebo (PLA) after 10-14 sets of 10 eccentric repetitions at 120% of concentric one-repetition maximum with the knee extensors. Postexercise (24 h) skeletal muscle fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was increased 76 ± 19% (P < 0.05) in PLA (0.058 ± 0.012%/h) and was unchanged (P > 0.05) in IBU (35 ± 21%; 0.021 ± 0.014%/h) and ACET (22 ± 23%; 0.010 ± 0.019%/h). Neither drug had any influence on whole body protein breakdown, as measured by rate of phenylalanine appearance, on serum creatine kinase, or on rating of perceived muscle soreness compared with PLA. These results suggest that over-the-counter doses of both ibuprofen and acetaminophen suppress the protein synthesis response in skeletal muscle after eccentric resistance exercise. Thus these two analgesics may work through a common mechanism to influence protein metabolism in skeletal muscle.

paracetamol; analgesics; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents; delayed-onset muscle soreness

http://www.kinemed.com/files/Effect_...profen_and.pdf

[BodyJBbuild]

bump good read^

[Stonecold54]

those doses are outrageous...who the fuck takes that much pain-killers? If for some reason I have some pain somewhere or a headache I take either 100mg or 200mg of Ibuprofen and that is it.

[Puddles]

I remember reading about this years ago.

For an occasional headache or muscle ache, a dose or two won't really be destructive but daily repeated use will hinder development. Even prescription meds like vicodin have non-prescription anti-inflamatories in them so they should be avoided too.

[Stonecold54]

i find a nice cup of tea heals a lot for me...along with a warm bath. People are so quick to pop a pill nowadays.

[NYCmitch25]

Originally Posted by stonecold54

those doses are outrageous...who the fuck takes that much pain-killers? If for some reason I have some pain somewhere or a headache I take either 100mg or 200mg of Ibuprofen and that is it.

True but I think this is the point "if NSAIDs must be taken to control the pain and you don’t want to interfere with protein synthesis, wait at least 24 hours post-workout to use. Also, listen to your body and take that much needed rest."

[BBAddict]

Originally Posted by stonecold54

those doses are outrageous...who the fuck takes that much pain-killers? If for some reason I have some pain somewhere or a headache I take either 100mg or 200mg of Ibuprofen and that is it.

Thats actually exactly the dosing that I take if I'm taking ibuprofen for control of inflammation. 600mgs 2x daily. It requires a significant dose for it to be effective at reducing inflammation. I never take meds for pain, so that's about the lowest dose I ever do.

Good read nycmitch.