Injury

Midrace painkillers may do more harm than good

NEXT TIME you’re packing your kit bag for a marathon or ultra, leave the painkillers at home. Two new studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) coupled with hard exercise could spell bad news.

Researchers at Stanford University, US, monitored ultra runners who took ibuprofen or a placebo every four hours during a 50-mile race. Those taking the drug were 18 per cent more likely to show signs of acute kidney injury. In a second study1, ibuprofen reduced the number of stem cells that were activated to promote healing after mild muscle injury. The researchers advise finding an alternative way to ease the pain of extreme exercise. Ice bath, anyone? Anyone?

PILL CONSIDERED Think twice before you pop a painkiller on a long, tough race.