salicylates and Athletic-Injuries

The extent of drug abuse in mass sport is only poorly documented. Studies about drug abuse investigated only the prohibited substances according to the Olympic movement antidoping code. So for instance about the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) by school children or young students. But only few investigations point to the drug abuse in mass sport regarding the easily accessible over-the-counter drugs of the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). These drugs permit an athlete to compete at his normal level of performance despite injuries or pain. However, the masking of pain may exacerbate the injury. Precautions should be taken to prevent the unwarranted or unmonitored use of anti-inflammatory agents during treatment of sport injuries. The abuse may be extensive since most people consider over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, harmless. Studies in Switzerland among endurance athletes in mass sport examining the use of medications before an event showed a prevalence between 5 and 10% of NSAID. Even if this seems a small number, further investigations should focus on the use of medications among different age groups and preventive information to abstain from the use of certain medication for competitors in mass sport should be worked out.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Athletic Injuries; Caffeine; Central Nervous System Agents; Doping in Sports; Ephedrine; Humans; Nonprescription Drugs; Running; Salicylates; Sports; Switzerland

The aim of this confirmative, monocentre, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was to investigate whether different escin combinations show differences in comparison to placebo with regard to pain reactions in the topical treatment of sports injuries. A total of 126 patients with blunt injuries of the extremities were randomly allocated to four parallel groups: Reparil-Gel N (n = 32), Reparil-Gel (n = 31), Reparil-Sportgel (n = 32) and a placebo gel (n = 31). All patients were evaluated for efficacy (intention to treat) and tolerability. A per-protocol analysis was also carried out, in which 12 of the 126 patients were excluded due to protocol violations. The intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses produced similar results. The patients had suffered contusions while participating in soccer, hockey, karate, tae-kwon-do, handball, American football, rugby or tennis. The measured variable was the pressure required at the centre of the lesion to elicit the first pain reaction (tenderness reaction) at measuring time 0 (baseline) and then 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 24 h after the injury. The primary variable was the area under the curve (AUC) for tenderness over a six-hour period. The mean AUC differed significantly in the four groups (Kruskal-Wallis test p = 0.0001). Then six pairwise comparisons of two treatment groups each were carried out using the Mann-Whitney test. To control the multiple significance level of 5%, the adjusted p-values according to the Holm-Shaffer method were used in these tests. The three active gels were significantly superior to the placebo gel (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.0004 in each case) in terms of the AUC. There were no significant differences between the active test substances in terms of the primary variable. The intensity of the pain was also measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS). The pain diminished more rapidly with the Reparil gels than with the placebo. The tolerability of all test substances was good. No adverse events were observed in any of the 126 patients. Escin combination gels are more effective than a placebo and are also well tolerated. Therefore, they can be recommended for the treatment of blunt injuries caused during sports and leisure activities.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Area Under Curve; Arm Injuries; Athletic Injuries; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Escin; Female; Gels; Humans; Leg Injuries; Male; Pain; Pain Measurement; Patient Satisfaction; Salicylates; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Fifty college athletes with acute sprains and strains from football-related activities were randomly assigned to treatment with either diflunisal or acetaminophen with codeine for seven days. Additional treatment in both groups included rest, elevation, local application of cold or heat, splinting, and physical therapy, as indicated. Both treatment groups exhibited clinically significant improvements in pain, tenderness, and swelling. The results of this study show that diflunisal, a peripherally acting nonnarcotic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties, was as effective as acetaminophen with codeine in relieving mild to moderate pain due to musculo-skeletal sprains and strains. The long duration of action of diflunisal permits less frequent dosing, an important consideration when prescribing medication for active young adults.

Topics: Acetaminophen; Adolescent; Adult; Athletic Injuries; Clinical Trials as Topic; Codeine; Diflunisal; Drug Combinations; Humans; Male; Pain; Random Allocation; Salicylates; Sprains and Strains

In a prospective open study over 2 years with 197 out-patients (150 men, 47 women, mean age 31 years) the efficacy and skin compatibility of a sportgel were investigated. Conditions of admission of a patient to the study were covered sport injuries according to their degree of severity of scaling 1-4 (0 = no complaints; 1 = slight complaints; 2 = slight to moderate complaints; 3 = moderate to severe complaints; 4 = severe complaints). Exclusion criteria were severe sport injuries older than three days and patients treated with medicaments others than with sportgel. 109 patients were treated who had muscle injuries and damages as a result of overstrain, 75 patients with joint injuries and damages from overstrain, and 13 patients with repeated injuries and damages from repeated overstrain in the muscular, tendon, and joint apparatus. Criterion of efficacy was the comparison of situation of ailment between treated and untreated patients in historic control. The descriptive evaluation of the results showed that under sportgel treatment the time of resumption of sporting activity is shortened generally by 2-6 days with damages of degrees of severity 1-4. During the two years' study none of the 197 patients showed any signs of skin incompatibility.

Topics: Adult; Athletic Injuries; Drug Combinations; Female; Gels; Heparin; Humans; Male; Menthol; Prospective Studies; Salicylates; Sprains and Strains; Time Factors

In this two-week study, Benoral tablets, at a 4.5 g daily dosage were compared with a matching placebo in 20 patients suffering from sports injury. Four assessments were made: pain at rest, pain on movement, tenderness and soft tissue swelling. In each case the active treatment group (benorylate) was statistically greater than that in the placebo group at one week and after two weeks' treatment.

Topics: Athletic Injuries; Bursitis; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Pain; Placebos; Salicylates; Synovitis; Tablets

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Athletic Injuries; Child; Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Male; Salicylates

Topics: Accidents; Adrenal Glands; Athletic Injuries; Drug Synergism; Gels; Glycosaminoglycans; Humans; Salicylates; Sulfuric Acids; Tissue Extracts; Wounds and Injuries