Objective: To determine the effects of Vicoprofen® and ibuprofen on aerobic performance, agility, and pain after exercise-induced muscle damage. Design: Double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, repeated-dose clinical trial. Setting: Human-performance and sports-medicine laboratory. Participants: 36 healthy men. Methods and Measures: Baseline testing was performed, 72 hours after which subjects performed eccentric exercise to induce muscle damage. They were evaluated for pain 24 hours postdamage and placed randomly into 3 groups: Vicoprofen (VIC), ibuprofen, or placebo (P). Postdamage testing was performed every day for 5 days. Subjects performed an economy run and a t-agility test to determine exercise performance. Results: The drugs had no significant effect on performance throughout the 5-day evaluation period. Pain was lower at days 4 and 5 in the VIC group than in P. Conclusions: It appears that Vicoprofen reduced pain after muscle damage, but the drug interventions did not enhance performance in aerobic and agility tasks.
VanHeest, J.L, J. Stoppani, T.P. Scheett, V. Collins (Wherley) et al. Effects of ibuprofen and Vicoprofen (R) on physical performance after exercise-induced muscle damage. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 11.3 (2002) :224-234
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