Effect of ketoprofen on muscle function and sEMG activity after eccentric exercise

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Pharmacology
• Muscle Biology

Background:

• Eccentric exercise can lead to muscle damage, resulting in delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and reduced muscle function.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used to manage pain and inflammation associated with muscle damage.
• The specific effects of ketoprofen on muscle soreness, force recovery, and myoelectric activity following eccentric exercise require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if ketoprofen attenuates muscle soreness (SOR) after high-force eccentric exercise.
• To assess ketoprofen's effect on the recovery of maximal isometric force (MIF).
• To investigate alterations in myoelectric activity (EMG) following ketoprofen administration post-exercise.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 48 subjects divided into four groups: control, placebo, 100 mg ketoprofen, and 25 mg ketoprofen.
• Subjects performed 50 maximal eccentric contractions of elbow flexors.
• Measurements of SOR, MIF, and surface EMG amplitude were taken at baseline, and at various time points post-exercise and post-drug administration.

Main Results:

• Ketoprofen significantly attenuated perceived muscle soreness compared to placebo (P < 0.05).
• Ketoprofen enhanced maximal isometric force recovery, with a 16% and 9% increase for 100mg and 25mg groups respectively, versus a 9% decrease in placebo.
• No significant effect of ketoprofen was observed on the increase in myoelectric activity during submaximal contractions.

Conclusions:

• Ketoprofen administration following muscle-damaging eccentric exercise effectively reduces muscle soreness.
• Ketoprofen treatment improves the recovery of maximal isometric force after eccentric exercise.
• Ketoprofen does not appear to alter myoelectric activity during submaximal contractions in the context of this study.