Analgesic Management of Pain in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Existing empirical research does not provide a sufficient body of evidence to guide athletes and healthcare professionals in making analgesic medication treatment decisions. Based on the relatively robust evidence regarding the widespread use of NSAIDs, clinicians and policymakers should carefully assess their current recommendations for NSAID use and adhere to a more unified consensus-based strategy for multidisciplinary pain management in elite athletes. In the future, we hope to see more rigorous, prospective studies of various pain management strategies in elite athletes, thus enabling a shift from consensus-based recommendations to evidence-based recommendations.

Benzodiazepine abuse among athletes: Pain relief or just a weapon against insomnia? A clinical case study

“…Athletes have been reported to use different classes of analgesic drugs in order to prevent and manage pain . The question of whether benzodiazepines possess analgesic properties has long been debated .…”

“…Athletes have been reported to use different classes of analgesic drugs in order to prevent and manage pain. 19 The question of whether benzodiazepines possess analgesic properties has long been debated. 15,30 Like the patient described in this case report, athletes commonly try to treat muscle pain problems with analgesics, and it is worth noting that pain prevention has been found to be the main reason for their taking such drugs, also during races.…”

“…Furthermore, because of their perceived performance-enhancing effects, painkillers (eg, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), non-opioid analgesics such as paracetamol and weak opioids for example, tramadol and codeine) are now increasingly being used in sport without real clinical justification [18][19][20][21] ; in this regard, it is interesting to note that evidence-based research has not found them to show clear efficacy on exercise performance. 16,22,23 The scarcity of scientific data concerning the prevalence of analgesic medication use among athletes and its effects on their health 19 makes it impossible for experts to issue evidence-based policy or treatment recommendations. 23 One study, examining It is widely recognized that benzodiazepine abuse can potentially induce addiction.…”

Epidemiological profile of pain and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug use in collegiate athletes in the United States

“…16 One of the most common pain management strategies is the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-In ammatory Drugs (NSAID), a class of medications that reduces pain, decrease in ammation, and fever. 17,18 Side effects depend on the speci c NSAID, but the most common side-effects include an increased risk of gastrointestinal upsets, ulcers and bleeds, bronchospasm, bruising, raised liver enzyme, and kidney disease. 18,19 Some NSAIDs (except aspirin) can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, potentially life-threatening even in healthy people.…”

The importance of nicotine use among winter sports athletes especially in skiers

“…3 As the Authors have pointed out, the misuse of painkillers in the sport environment (i.e., not for a clinical indication), is a growing and critical phenomenon considering that evidence-based research has not demonstrated efficacy in exercise performance. 4,5 Nicotine and some analgesics, however, may be considered a potential health risk (e.g., addiction) and a possible gateway toward doping. 6,7 An interesting debate is how nicotine may modulate pain.…”