Tackling pain and inflammation: The impact of analgesics in sports medicine

Surinder Sethi; Sumedh Talvelkar

doi:10.31893/multirev.2024064

Keywords:

Abstract

Throughout their careers, athletes frequently struggle with pain and inflammation, which frequently reduces performance and slows recovery. The use of analgesics in sports medicine is examined here, with a focus on how athletes might manage their pain and inflammation. In the opening section of the chapter, a general overview of pain and inflammation in relation to sports injuries is given, emphasizing the negative consequences these conditions have on athletic performance. We explored the numerous analgesics used in sports medicine, such as acetaminophen, opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and local anesthetics. The mode of action, indications, advantages, drawbacks, and potential side effects of each analgesic class are examined, highlighting the importance of comprehending how each affects the well-being and performance of athletes. The article also explored the effects of analgesics on athletic performance, outlining both the advantages of temporary pain relief and potential drawbacks such as hiding underlying problems or encouraging dependency. It is highlighted how crucial it is for athletes to have individualized pain management programs, as the fine line between pain management and injury aggravation is discussed. In addition, ethical issues surrounding the use of analgesics in sports, such as doping laws, fair play, and possible analgesic abuse for the purpose of enhancing performance, are discussed. To maintain the integrity of sports and safeguard athletes' wellbeing, the responsible use of and adherence to rules are strongly encouraged. This review examines integrative treatments in sports medicine, such as physical therapy, mind-body interventions, and nutritional interventions, which provide effective alternatives for managing pain and inflammation without relying primarily on analgesics in light of alternative approaches. Examples of analgesic use in sports medicine are highlighted in real-world case studies, highlighting how it affects players' careers and well-being. The review's conclusion looks at potential long-term consequences for athletes' health as well as future directions.
References
1. Beim G, Brena KR, Jones BH, Lindsay A, Sterett W, Heinze JD (2023) Taking a holistic approach to treating endurance athletes. In: Miller, T.L. (eds) Endurance Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26600-3_1
2. Daud SMM, Sukri NM, Johari MH, Gnanou J, & Manaf FA (2023) Pure juice supplementation: its effect on muscle recovery and sports performance. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences MJMS 30:31. https://doi.org/10.21315%2Fmjms2023.30.1.4
3. Giraldo-Vallejo J E, Cardona-Guzmán M Á, Rodríguez-Alcivar E J, Kočí J, Petro J L, Kreider R B, ... & Bonilla DA (2023) Nutritional strategies in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes: a systematic integrative review. Nutrients 15:819. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040819
4. Kafa B, Cakmak G, Sahin MS, Helvacioglu F, Fidan PA, Demir T, & Guvercin A C Y (2023) Histological and biomechanical effects of local anesthetics and steroids on achilles tendon: a study in rats. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 51:1319-1327. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465231153640
5. Kamaruddin H K, Farah N M, Aziz A R, Mündel T, & Che Muhamed A M (2023) Carbohydrate mouth rinse is no more effective than placebo on running endurance of dehydrated and heat acclimated athletes. European journal of applied physiology:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05170-y
6. Kemler B, Onor G, Ramtin S, & Ciccotti MC (2023) Evidence-based orthopaedic post-operative opioid prescribing recommendations following sports medicine knee surgery. Surgi Coll1(2). https://doi.org/10.58616/001c.77746
7. Marinelli S, & Coccurello R (2023) From the gender gap to neuroactive steroids: exploring multiple cases to further understand neuropathic pain. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:8577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108577
8. Mazzeo F, Meccariello R, & Guatteo E (2023) Molecular and epigenetic aspects of opioid receptors in drug addiction and pain management in sport. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:7831. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24097831
9. Nudo S, Jimenez-Garcia JA, Dover G (2023) Efficacy of topical versus oral analgesic medication compared to a placebo in injured athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports 33:1884-1900. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14418
10. Oliveira GM, Andrade FAB, Pereira AB, Viza RS, Gerspacher HF, Monteiro MC, Campos HO, Drummond LR, Leite LHR, Coimbra CC. (2023). Is physical performance affected by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use? a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2023.2220439
11. Paulik John (2023) Injuries, management, and prevention in the weekend warrior. Bone Bulletin 1:3.
12. Purcell C, Duignan C, Fullen B M, Ryan S, Ward T, & Caulfield B (2023) Comprehensive assessment and classification of upper and lower limb pain in athletes: a scoping review. British journal of sports medicine 57:535–542. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106380
13. Vadhera Amar, Gursoy Safa,Sivasundaram Lakshman,Lee Jonathan,Singh Harsh, Bunachita Sean, Chahla Jorge (2023) Case presentation: revision quad tendon repair and vastus advancement. Video Journal of Sports Medicine 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/26350254231177390.
14. Ventresca M, & King S (2023) Anesthetized gladiators: painkilling and racial capitalism in the NFL. Sociology of Sport Journal 40:21-29. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2021-0172
15. Wolla CD, Kelly T (2023) Complimentary non-pharmacological and non-opioid options. In: Li, J., Jiang, W., Vadivelu, N. (eds) First Aid Perioperative Ultrasound. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21291-8_16
16. Wu E B, Hsiao C C, Hung K C, Hung C T, Chen C C, Wu S C, ... & Luo S D (2023) Opioid-sparing analgesic effects from interscalene block impact anesthetic management during shoulder arthroscopy: a retrospective observational study. Journal of Pain Research 119-128. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S397282
17. Zandonai T, Lozano J J, Escorial M, & Peiró A M (2023) Use of analgesics in professional soccer players: a systematic review. Apunts Sports Medicine 58:100415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apunsm.2023.100415

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Sethi, S., & Talvelkar, S. (2024). Tackling pain and inflammation: The impact of analgesics in sports medicine. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7(4), 20240264. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024064

[1] Beim G, Brena KR, Jones BH, Lindsay A, Sterett W, Heinze JD (2023) Taking a holistic approach to treating endurance athletes. In: Miller, T.L. (eds) Endurance Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26600-3_1

[2] Daud SMM, Sukri NM, Johari MH, Gnanou J, & Manaf FA (2023) Pure juice supplementation: its effect on muscle recovery and sports performance. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences MJMS 30:31. https://doi.org/10.21315%2Fmjms2023.30.1.4

[3] Giraldo-Vallejo J E, Cardona-Guzmán M Á, Rodríguez-Alcivar E J, Kočí J, Petro J L, Kreider R B, ... & Bonilla DA (2023) Nutritional strategies in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes: a systematic integrative review. Nutrients 15:819. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040819

[4] Kafa B, Cakmak G, Sahin MS, Helvacioglu F, Fidan PA, Demir T, & Guvercin A C Y (2023) Histological and biomechanical effects of local anesthetics and steroids on achilles tendon: a study in rats. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 51:1319-1327. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465231153640

[5] Kamaruddin H K, Farah N M, Aziz A R, Mündel T, & Che Muhamed A M (2023) Carbohydrate mouth rinse is no more effective than placebo on running endurance of dehydrated and heat acclimated athletes. European journal of applied physiology:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05170-y

[6] Kemler B, Onor G, Ramtin S, & Ciccotti MC (2023) Evidence-based orthopaedic post-operative opioid prescribing recommendations following sports medicine knee surgery. Surgi Coll1(2). https://doi.org/10.58616/001c.77746

[7] Marinelli S, & Coccurello R (2023) From the gender gap to neuroactive steroids: exploring multiple cases to further understand neuropathic pain. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:8577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108577

[8] Mazzeo F, Meccariello R, & Guatteo E (2023) Molecular and epigenetic aspects of opioid receptors in drug addiction and pain management in sport. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:7831. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24097831

[9] Nudo S, Jimenez-Garcia JA, Dover G (2023) Efficacy of topical versus oral analgesic medication compared to a placebo in injured athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports 33:1884-1900. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14418

[10] Oliveira GM, Andrade FAB, Pereira AB, Viza RS, Gerspacher HF, Monteiro MC, Campos HO, Drummond LR, Leite LHR, Coimbra CC. (2023). Is physical performance affected by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use? a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2023.2220439

[11] Paulik John (2023) Injuries, management, and prevention in the weekend warrior. Bone Bulletin 1:3.

[12] Purcell C, Duignan C, Fullen B M, Ryan S, Ward T, & Caulfield B (2023) Comprehensive assessment and classification of upper and lower limb pain in athletes: a scoping review. British journal of sports medicine 57:535–542. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106380

[13] Vadhera Amar, Gursoy Safa,Sivasundaram Lakshman,Lee Jonathan,Singh Harsh, Bunachita Sean, Chahla Jorge (2023) Case presentation: revision quad tendon repair and vastus advancement. Video Journal of Sports Medicine 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/26350254231177390.

[14] Ventresca M, & King S (2023) Anesthetized gladiators: painkilling and racial capitalism in the NFL. Sociology of Sport Journal 40:21-29. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2021-0172

[15] Wolla CD, Kelly T (2023) Complimentary non-pharmacological and non-opioid options. In: Li, J., Jiang, W., Vadivelu, N. (eds) First Aid Perioperative Ultrasound. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21291-8_16

[16] Wu E B, Hsiao C C, Hung K C, Hung C T, Chen C C, Wu S C, ... & Luo S D (2023) Opioid-sparing analgesic effects from interscalene block impact anesthetic management during shoulder arthroscopy: a retrospective observational study. Journal of Pain Research 119-128. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S397282

[17] Zandonai T, Lozano J J, Escorial M, & Peiró A M (2023) Use of analgesics in professional soccer players: a systematic review. Apunts Sports Medicine 58:100415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apunsm.2023.100415

Abstract

References

How to cite