Does ibuprofen help sore muscles?

In this article:

• Does ibuprofen help with sore muscles?
• Benefits
• Drawbacks
• What is the best painkiller for sore muscles?

In this article

• Does ibuprofen help with sore muscles?
• Benefits
• Drawbacks
• What is the best painkiller for sore muscles?

Injuries. Arthritis. Going bowling for the first time in ten years. Muscle soreness has a lot of causes, and almost as many solutions. But when you roll out of bed and your legs or back scream at you, your first thought might be to grab the ibuprofen. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a popular pain reliever for everyone from Olympic champions to people who slept in an awkward position—but does it truly work for sore muscles? 

Ibuprofen might help ease some of the muscle pain that comes after workouts, but it might not always be the best or most effective way. Here’s why. 

Does ibuprofen help with sore muscles?

It is relatively safe to take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs for muscle soreness, and might be highly effective too, depending on the situation. For example, it’s FDA approved to treat soreness and joint pain from inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and research shows it’s effective in the short-term. 

In the long-term, however, NSAIDs like ibuprofen are often only one part of the solution. For chronic conditions, Bryan Wright, DPT, physical therapist at Wright Physical Therapy, recommends “treatment plans that focus on targeted exercise, lifestyle changes, and physical therapy. Ibuprofen should only be used occasionally to control flare-ups under a doctor’s guidance.”

Body aches can also come from infections like the flu or the common cold. In these cases, ibuprofen is a viable treatment, and it comes with the bonus of reducing fevers too, if you have one. 

When dealing with pain from musculoskeletal injuries, the American College of Physicians recommends NSAIDs as a first-line intervention, and recent studies like this one from 2017 support this claim—at least for short-term treatment. This largely applies to acute muscle pain and inflammation, specifically from injuries or surgery, since NSAIDs are a preferable alternative to opioids, which can lead to abuse and addiction.

However, some have expressed concern that NSAID use may actually inhibit the healing process. These drugs work by reducing the production of lipids called prostaglandins, which contribute to inflammation, pain, and blood clotting. The general concern is that these lipids also contribute to muscle healing. There is conflicting evidence on whether it slows bone healing, and some other research on its inhibition of muscle recovery, but researchers say more data is necessary to make a definitive claim.

Multifaceted treatment—which may or may not include NSAIDs—is often more effective for recovery. “In my clinic, we use a combination of manual therapy, targeted stretches, and therapeutic exercise to speed healing and prevent re-injury,” says Wright. 

Does ibuprofen help with sore muscles from working out?

Ibuprofen is so prevalent in the athletic and exercise communities that it’s earned the nickname “vitamin I.” However, scientific communities have less confidence about its effectiveness for relieving delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This type of soreness “can occur when a person performs a vigorous new exercise, or increases weight/repetitions too quickly,” says Dr. Farah Hameed, MD, associate chair for the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. It “doesn’t happen immediately and can in some cases take 24-72 hours for symptoms to peak.”

Some older studies—like this one from 2003—have concluded that ibuprofen can relieve exercise-induced soreness in the short term. Other research, however, has found that it’s only marginally better (if at all) than a placebo.  

But long-term use might come with some risks. “Some studies have suggested that it might be problematic to use NSAIDs for DOMS due to the fact that these medications may impair the adaptive response to exercise if used chronically,” Dr. Hameed says. “There is no current evidence to suggest, however, that intermittent and/or occasional use of NSAIDs for pain would be detrimental. If the symptoms of DOMS are severe and not happening frequently, it would be safe and potentially effective to use NSAIDs to help with symptoms.”

Many athletes, particularly endurance athletes, swear by ibuprofen as a pre-competition ritual. Some people claim it can reduce soreness and even improve performance, but research says otherwise. Studies have shown that preemptive ibuprofen hasn’t demonstrated an ability to prevent DOMS either. As for its effect on performance, some studies found it offered no benefits, while others were inconclusive. 

Benefits of taking ibuprofen for sore muscles

So why, then, would you take ibuprofen when you’re sore? It does have a few appealing benefits for anyone dealing with muscle pain:

• It reduces inflammation: Ibuprofen’s primary function is decreasing inflammation, which is often a cause for soreness—particularly with conditions like arthritis. 

• It works fast: Typically, oral ibuprofen starts working in about 20–30 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long for sweet relief. 

• It’s not addictive: One common drug for acute muscle pain after injury or surgery is opioids, but opioid addiction is an epidemic. NSAIDs provide a safer, non-addictive alternative. 

• It’s available over the counter: This makes it easily accessible and fairly inexpensive. 

Drawbacks of taking ibuprofen for sore muscles

But as we’ve already mentioned, ibuprofen isn’t always the best option for muscle soreness. Here are some of its most notable drawbacks. 

• It has side effects: The most common are gastrointestinal reactions like nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea. 

• It might affect kidney function: NSAIDs have been linked to acute kidney injury (AKI), tubulointerstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease. In one study on endurance runners, those who took ibuprofen before a race had an 18% higher rate of kidney injury.

• It might cause heart issues: In 2005, the FDA issued a warning that taking NSAIDs could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. And in 2015, they repeated and strengthened that warning. 
• You shouldn’t take it long-term: Ibuprofen is intended as a temporary, short-term solution. “Long-term use of NSAIDs has been linked to serious gastrointestinal complications (such as peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding), cardiovascular disease, and renal failure,” Dr. Hameed says. 

Anyone who has a pre-existing kidney, liver, stomach, or heart disease should talk to a doctor before taking ibuprofen. 

What is the best painkiller for sore muscles?

The best treatment for sore muscles depends on the specific situation. For the pain associated with injuries or inflammatory conditions, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen can work well since they also treat inflammation, but people with heart or kidney problems may need to use other over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead since they don’t pose the same risks. 

Sore muscles rarely ever require opioids or other prescription painkillers. However, sometimes doctors might recommend opioids, gabapentin, or other prescription medicine for post-surgical pain. Additionally, soreness from severe cases of arthritis may respond well to corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or biologics. 

For post-workout soreness, it’s often best to let it run its course or use other, non-medicine treatments. “Generally, muscle soreness should improve on its own over a few days,” Dr. Hameed says. She recommends relative rest,  stretching, and hydration or electrolyte repletion during the acute period, as well as cold baths, massage, heat therapy, compression sleeves, or topical analgesics as other treatments in the days following exercise.  

“The most effective approach is addressing the root cause of soreness through comprehensive treatment and education on prevention strategies, as opposed to relying solely on medication for an easy fix,” adds Wright. “Ibuprofen has its place, but should be used judiciously and according to instructions.”