The study provides a snapshot of the medications used in the 72 hours before each match during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. More than two-thirds of footballers taking part in the World Cup used any sort of prescribed medication at some point, with 60.3% taking painkilling drugs at least once. Before their team’s match, just under half the players were taking some sort of medication, regardless of whether they were playing. Most of these players were taking anti-inflammatory drugs,according to NHS choice.
Anti inflammatory drugs
Anti inflammatory drugs can irritate your stomach and bowel (digestive system). If you take them without anything to protect your stomach, they can cause stomach bleeding or ulcers. They can also slow down the time your blood takes to clot. So if you have any bleeding or clotting problems your doctor may not use these drugs. Some types can affect the ways that your kidneys work.
Why not acupuncture?
Eight Cochrane reviews were included and all were of a high methodological quality spanning a variety of different pain syndromes. Four reviews concluded that acupuncture is effective for migraines, neck disorders, tension-type headaches, and peripheral joint osteoarthritis; one review failed to demonstrate the effectiveness of acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis; and three reviews were inconclusive for shoulder pain, lateral elbow pain, and low back pain.
The author’s conclusions were that the research suggests acupuncture is effective for some but not all types of pain.
So, we have to remind footballers--Want to take painkiller ? Think again.
