Consumption of analgesics among runners of the Poznań Marathon
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TRENDS in Sport Sciences 2015;22(1)
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ABSTRACT
Introduction. Marathons and half-marathons have become a popular physical activity. However, they can lead to overloading of the locomotor system and, consequently, to running-related musculoskeletal injuries. Some athletes participating in marathons in Europe or in the USA are known to take analgesics before or during the run to relieve existing or anticipated pain. Aim of Study. The goal of this study was to establish whether and to what extent Polish amateur marathon runners use analgesics. Material and Methods. A total of 82 runners (58 men and 24 women) who took part in the Poznań Marathon on12 October 2014 were studied. The distributed survey included, in addition to personal data, questions about the extent and reasons for taking analgesics, awareness of their potentially harmful effects, and the type of painkillers used. Results. It was found that 18.3% of the marathon runners used analgesics due to actual or expected pain. Painkillers were used more often by women (25.0%) compared to men (15.5%). The athletes were aware (43.6%) that using these drugs can be harmful for their body and increase the possibility of injury because of pain suppression (38.2%); however, this knowledge did not prevent 33.3% of the women and 66.7% of the men from using painkillers. Conclusions. The Poznań Marathon participants used painkillers before (73.3%) or during (33.3%) the run. The awareness that analgesics can be harmful when used before or during a marathon did not stop some participants from taking them (53.3%). It is recommended to implement an awareness-raising program highlighting the risks of using painkillers, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)