Here's why Ibuprofen and exercise don't mix

This is how I feel when you ask me if 3x5 means 3 sets of 5 or 5 sets of 3..


So, you're addicted to your HIIT workouts, and now you're so sore that you need to take Ibuprofen to function in daily life. Here's why you shouldn't do that.

Don't take it before your workout. I think it's pretty common knowledge that Ibuprofen puts your tendons at a higher risk of rupture.  I don't remember the mechanism, I just read that article a long time ago.  

Don't take it after your workout. I won't go into the studies here either, but things that dull your body's response to a workout also prevent you from getting stronger from the workout. I remember reading about long-distance cyclists downing vitamin E after a long workout. The antioxidant effect of vitamin E meant that the body didn't see the inflammation from the workout, so it never adapted. I would imagine the same thing happens with Ibuprofen - it manages the inflammation before your body gets to see it.  

Just don't take it at all. But it's it better to get that hard workout in that makes you all swole and then just recover with some Ibuprofen, right? Well not if you like having testosterone: Ibuprofen alters human testicular physiology to produce a state of compensated hypogonadism.

Strength training - heavy, slow, non-glycolytic - is one of the best ways to stimulate your body to make more testosterone. Testosterone is good for you (and not just for guys) it makes you feel good, it helps you get stronger, you want testosterone. But if you do too much work and then rely on the Ibuprofen and you'll be going backward. 

Michael Deskevich