Prophylactic misuse and recommended use of non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs by athletes - Correspondence to Dr Stuart J
Warden, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and
Rehabilitation Sciences, Indiana University, 1140 W Michigan St,
CF-326, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; - Accepted 16 December 2008
- Published Online First 9 January 2009 Superstitions and
rituals are commonplace in sports and range from simple
activities such as each player touching a special inanimate
object before entering the field of play to more extreme
behaviours such as not washing a uniform or wearing the same
underwear during a winning streak. These practices are
relatively harmless and may reduce precompetition anxiety, but a
concerning ritual that has recently developed in sports is the
prophylactic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). Athletes misuse NSAIDs Athletes have relatively
unrestricted access to NSAIDs, as they are readily available
over-the-counter preparations and not considered as perf