Evaluation of Ibuprofen Use on the Immune System Indicators and Force in Disabled Paralympic Powerlifters of Different Sport Levels

Abstract

Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) training is typically intense and causes fatigue and alterations in the immune system. Objective: To analyze whether IBU would affect performance and the immune system after training in PP. Methodology: 10 athletes at the national level (NL) and 10 at the regional level (RL) participated in the study, where force and blood indicators were evaluated after training. The study took place over three weeks: (1) familiarization and (2 and 3) comparison between recovery methods, with ibuprofen or placebo (IBU vs. PLA), 800 mg. In the evaluation of the force, the peak torque (PT), fatigue index (FI), and blood immune system biomarkers were analyzed. The training consisted of five sets of five repetitions with 80% of one maximum repetition (5 × 5, 80% 1RM) on the bench press. Results: The PT at the national level using IBU was higher than with PLA (p = 0.007, η2p = 0.347), and the FI in the NL was lower with IBU than with PLA (p = 0.002, η2p = 0.635), and when comparing the use of IBU, the NL showed less fatigue than the regional level (p = 0.004, η2p = 0.414). Leukocytes, with the use of IBU in the NL group, were greater than in the RL (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.329). Neutrophils, in the NL with IBU, were greater than in the RL with IBU and PLA (p = 0.025, η2p = 0.444). Lymphocytes, in NL with IBU were lower than in RL with IBU and PLA (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.491). Monocytes, in the NL with IBU and PLA, were lower than in the RL with IBU (p = 0.049, η2p = 0.344). For hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte, the NL with IBU and PLA were higher than the RL with IBU and PLA (p < 0.05). Ammonia, with the use of IBU in the NL, obtained values higher than in the RL (p = 0.007), and with the use of PLA, the NL was higher than the RL (p = 0.038, η2p = 0.570). Conclusion: The training level tends to influence the immune system and, combined with the use of the IBU, it tends to improve recovery and the immune system.

Immunological Response to Exercise in Athletes with Disabilities: A Narrative Review of the Literature

“…We were able to identify three studies [ 89 , 90 , 91 ] covering the impact of specific pharmacological strategies on the immune system and inflammatory state in disabled athletes.…”

A Bibliometrics-Enhanced, PAGER-Compliant Scoping Review of the Literature on Paralympic Powerlifting: Insights for Practices and Future Research

“…Seven studies [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ] were excluded with reason ( n = 2, not reporting sufficient details; n = 5, not disaggregating data according to para-sports discipline). Finally, 37 studies [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ] were retained in the present scoping review. We found that the included studies focused on a range of aspects involving health, classification, the etiology of injuries, and performance.…”

“…Five studies [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ] explored the impact of post-exercise recovery in PP through physiological and biochemical assessments using different strategies. Aidar et al [ 42 ] conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial and recruited 10 PP athletes at the national level, aged 27.13 ± 5.57 years.…”

“…In another work, Aidar et al [ 43 ] conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial and recruited a sample of 20 PP athletes (10 at the national level, aged 32.50 ± 3 years, and 10 at the regional level, aged 30.75 ± 5.32 years). Athletes underwent a warm-up and 5 × 5 at 80% of 1RM, with half of the sample ingesting ibuprofen 15 min before the commencement of the training.…”

“…Concerning recovery strategies, pharmacological interventions (such as ibuprofen) were found to impact the immune and muscular systems, proving to be an important recovery strategy to reduce fatigue and improve performance, albeit without any effect on oxidative and anti-inflammatory stress markers, as shown in the two studies by Aidar et al [ 42 , 43 ], whilst the results were mixed in the study by Fraga et al [ 44 ], in which ibuprofen seemed to delay the anti-inflammatory response post-exercise. Another study [ 45 ] investigated the impact of creatine supplementation on recovery, which was found to impact one parameter only, showing a decrease in fatigue index values.…”