The Worst Time to Pop A Pill
Yesterday's run has you feeling sore today, but don't reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever just yet. Anti-inflammatories may inhibit your muscles' rebuilding process, which means you might not get stronger, says Abigail Mackey, Ph.D., a researcher at the Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen in Denmark who studied the drugs' effect on long-distance runners. After taking a pain reliever daily for four days before and eight days after a 22-mile run, the athletes experienced no increase in the cells associated with muscle growth and repair. However, those who took a placebo had 27 percent more of those muscle-supporting cells, according to the study. It's okay to take an anti-inflammatory for occasional aches, just don't make it a habit. (An always-safe way to reduce stiffness: light exercise like walking.) And remember, mild soreness is your muscles' way of reminding you that they're getting toned.
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