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

Purpose: This study examined whether ketoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, attenuated muscle soreness (SOR), improved maximal isometric force (MIF) recovery, and/or altered myoelectric activity after high-force eccentric exercise. Methods: 48 subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: CON: no exercise/no drug (N = 12); PLA: exercise + placebo (N = 12); TRT-100: exercise + 100 mg oral ketoprofen (N = 12); and TRT-25: exercise + 25 mg oral ketoprofen (N = 12). PLA, TRT-100, and TRT-25 were administered in a double-blind fashion. Baseline measurements of SOR, MIF, and surface electromyographic (EMG) amplitude were taken, and PLA, TRT-100, and TRT-25 performed 50 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors; 36 h later, subjects reporting moderate soreness were given ketoprofen or placebo and SOR measures were taken hourly for 8 h. EMG amplitude was assessed during MIF before dosing and again 8 h later and during submaximal contractions of 5 %, 10%, and 20% of MIF before dosing and hourly for 8 h. Results: Eccentric exercise increased myoelectric activity during submaximal force measurements in PLA, TRT-100, and TRT-25 in all conditions. Ketoprofen had no effect on reducing this increase in EMG activity. Ketoprofen attenuated perceived SOR (P < 0.05) and enhanced MIF recovery (P < 0.05) compared with placebo. TRT-100 and TRT-25 demonstrated 10% and 19% reductions in SOR, respectively, and 16% and 9% increases in MIF, respectively, whereas PLA demonstrated a 1% increase in SOR and 9% decrease in MIF over 8 h, Conclusion: Ketoprofen treatment after muscle damaging exercise reduces muscle soreness and improves force recovery.