Abstract des Autors

The modern increase of sport practise, both professional and amateur, causes an increase of sports injuries and consequently an increase in pharmacological therapy. NSAIDs are among the most frequently used drugs in sports medicine because of both their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The analgesic action is both peripheral, with a reduction in nociceptor activity, and central due either to a decrease in spinal descending pathways activity, or to an increase in the endogenous opioids. The latter is, probably, the cause of an ameliorated performance of treated subjects, due to a less sedative effect of some cerebral prostaglandins (PG). The physical activity lifts the body temperature with increased energy expenditure and consequently causes hyperventilation, tachycardia, peripheral vasodilation, urinary concentration and acidification. NSAIDs help to diminish the body temperature by the inhibition of prostaglandins synthesis; not all the authors agree with this effect during physical activity. Physical activity enhances some NSAIDs' side-effects like: gastric injuries, reduced diuresis, dehydration. Enteric-coated and short half-life NSAIDs are well tolerated because of avoidance of drug accumulation and a shortened therapy period. In the decision-making process regarding the treatment of choice, many factors must be evaluated such as the side-effects, the cost/benefit ratio, the kind of trauma, the sport performed, the time elapsed between the trauma and the competition, the training level and even the real need for treatment itself. In this paper we suggest some rational therapeutic behaviour to meet the athletes' requirements during the different training steps. Eventually the authors state that further research is needed in the near future dealing with: the different classes of sportsmen, and the different sports; the NSAIDs kinetics relating to age, sex and training level; the complete understanding of the therapeutic effects and its possible influence on performances. Verf.-Referat