Question for you Old Farts.....

Do you take Ibuprofen before or after your workout? :blushing:
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Replies

  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    If you take it before, you risk pushing yourself too hard and causing actual injury.

    I take aleve before I go to bed, if at all. It helps me get a better night's sleep so that my body can heal itself.
  • LouSmorals
    LouSmorals Posts: 93 Member
    If my legs feel heavy will take before I run.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I don't take pain killers before a work out. It can mask pain signals that I actually need to pay attention to.

    Afterwards, Aleve if i need it.
  • michael1976_ca
    michael1976_ca Posts: 3,488 Member
    who you calling old farts lol after of course
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Do you take Ibuprofen before or after your workout? :blushing:

    Neither. It's bad for you.

    Instead: Proper warm up, workout, proper cool down. Stretch and use the foam roller in the evening for a 10 minute "rub out the issues" session.

    Proper nutrition and recovery. No need for medicinal masking agents. Well, there is wine and beer....
  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
    I've taken Aleve before a race
  • mjudd1990
    mjudd1990 Posts: 219 Member
    I'd say after, mainly because taking an NSAID and then sweating and getting dehydrated can wreak havoc on your kidneys (NSAID induced nephropathy). If you insist on taking it before, be sure you are well hydrated to begin with, and continue drinking water during the workout.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    After and only when it's absolutely necessary.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I have taken it before exercise only on rare occasions because I had plantar fasciitis.
    In general, I am wary of too much reliance on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
    I know that at one time the idea behind using them was that inflammation was bad, and inhibited healing, and therefore should be treated. But I suspect that idea was not well thought out. Yes, inflammation could seem to be harmful when there was a wound. But, it probably is not when one has a sterile, closed injury. Why would the body produce inflammation in a closed injury if it wasn't helping the healing? That would make no sense.
    Now, ibuprofen is not as strongly anti-inflammatory as aspirin. But it is still anti-inflammatory. So, therefore, I just avoid it as much as I can in the hopes that whatever is hurting will heal faster and better if I do not use it.
    So, sure, I use ibuprofen. But, i usually wait to be sure that I really need help with the pain first. That generally means waiting until after the exercise.
    And, of course, if the pain is so bad that you need ibuprofen to get through the activity, you probably need to rethink engaging in that activity.
    Yes, I am an old fart. I freely admit it.
  • FatOldManMN
    FatOldManMN Posts: 1,116 Member
    Great feedback and suggestions.

    Thanks!!

    :smile:
  • harvo
    harvo Posts: 4,676 Member
    I know when I was lifting in the am and cardio at lunch drinking whey protein seemed to help my muscles from hurting so bad.
  • SexY_ret1REE57
    SexY_ret1REE57 Posts: 66 Member
    I also take Aleve in the evening after dinner. I also rub my knees in Icy Hot. That way I have a restful evening and awake less sore and ready to complete my run in the morning.
  • chrisrc131
    chrisrc131 Posts: 45 Member
    Are you talking about for injury, or just to deal with normal muscle soreness? You really shouldn't be taking it for the later.

    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/phys-ed-does-ibuprofen-help-or-hurt-during-exercise/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

    I do take it sometimes to knock down the level of a headache before working out, but that's about it.
  • BarbellApprentice
    BarbellApprentice Posts: 486 Member
    Yea, I don't take ibuprofen. I am finding with age that I can still make performance gains and workout with great intensity. The difference between now and youth is that my body is just more sensitive. So I can't neglect proper warm up, mobility, stretching, form, recovery, sleep, and get away with it for very long.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Old fart checking in....

    Only take it when you need it - not as part of an exercise routine. Why in particular are you taking it?
  • seeingthelight
    seeingthelight Posts: 128 Member
    I used to take Advil 3 times a day due to muscle and joint pain. Then my NP suggested trying Fish oil and it really helped the pain and I only needed Advil occasionaly. I added Osteo Biflex last spring after a knee injury and feel like I am pain free most of the time now. Occasionally I have some soreness after a workout but I try warming up and then stretching to ease it or ice before I resort to Advil. Remember to warm up before every work-out and to stretch after every workout and to stay active. Good luck.
  • Sharonks
    Sharonks Posts: 884 Member
    I try to avoid either. If you are getting normal soreness then after. Sometimes just taking a day off can help. If I overworked muscles I try to do some gentle stretching and moderate walking throughout the day to help them loosen up. If you are getting joint pain (something us OFs often get) then changing how you are doing things that hurt may be good. It may even mean you need to do something completely different. For example, I have severe shoulder problems so I no longer swim. I manage to lift although squatting with a bar can be a little tough sometimes because my shoulders can't bend and rotate the way they ought to so they can hold the bar.
  • FatOldManMN
    FatOldManMN Posts: 1,116 Member
    Lower back discomfort.
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    Bad for the heart, bad for the kidneys, bad for the stomach, great for pain. Higher risk of MI.

    Is it worth it? I use it occasionally, but not for exercise related pain and I use high doses (800mg). But you should check w/ your doc to see if it is appropriate for you.
  • FatOldManMN
    FatOldManMN Posts: 1,116 Member
    Now that I've loosened up a bit, I'm a lot less prone to aches and pains. So activity, diet and exercise are the keys.