Here is something I’ve always wondered about. People run, swim, lift weights or otherwise work out to become fitter and stronger. Then after they work out they feel sore and take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) like ibuprofen. We already know that the inflammatory process can be involved in promoting cell division. So will blocking inflammation also block muscle growth?
A new paper in Cell hints that it could. The researchers found that a molecule called Srf (serum response factor) translates mechanical force signals in the muscle into chemical signals that recruit nearby stem cells to grow and link up with nearby muscle cells. Part of this interaction involves the COX-2 enzyme. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS work by blocking COX enzymes that otherwise would create prostaglandins, which mediate pain.
So yes, it seems that if you want to build bigger, strong muscles you probably should go without the NSAIDS and let yourself feel sore.