Most people experience muscle soreness 24 to 48 hours after a new exercise program. Individuals have tried everything from massage, ultrasound and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen and aspirin to help reduce muscle soreness. Oral NSAID drugs are the most commonly used anti-inflammatory but may have gastrointestinal side effects. A topical (medication applied directly to the skin) anti-inflammatory version of ibuprofen was recently tested to determine if it decreases muscle soreness. It is thought that the topical application would eliminate the gastrointestinal side effects associated with oral ibuprofen.

The study "Effects of Ibuprofen Topical Gel on Muscle Soreness" examined the effect of a 10% ibuprofen gel on muscle soreness¹. The study included 106 subjects who had not participated in a strength training program for the past six months and did not have a job that required strenuous activity. Subjects completed six sets of 10 repetitions of machine bicep and leg curls. Thirty-six hours after exercise the subjects applied a placebo (gel without ibuprofen) treatment or ibuprofen gel to the exercised muscle groups. Subjects rated their pain at intervals for 108 hours after exercise.

The results of this study showed that topical ibuprofen gel had no effect on muscle soreness. It also did not reduce peak levels of muscle soreness.

There is no general agreement among research studies as to the benefits of NSAID oral or topical treatments to reduce muscle soreness. Additional studies are required to better determine if ibuprofen affects muscle soreness.

1. Hyldahl, R. D., Keadle, J., Rouzier, P. A., Pearl, D., & Clarkson, P. M. . (2010). Effects of ibuprofen topical gel on muscle soreness. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 42(3), 614-621.