U of S studies effects of exercise and ibuprofen

It's a problem many of us face as we grow older...the loss of bone density and muscle mass. 

Exercise can help slow that process but U of S kinesiology professor, Phil Chilibeck, said

exercise can also cause inflammation, which breaks down muscle and bone.

"If there's too much inflammation, too much damage that might impair the repair process. And that might be one of the problems with aging is that you don't recover as well."

So Chilibeck is following up on a small American study that suggested taking a common over the

counter pain medication, ibuprofen, right after exercise might help reduce damaging inflammation. 

"It looks like preventing inflammation was important for not only building muscle mass and strength but also building  bone as well."

It looks like preventing inflammation was important for not only building muscle mass and strength but also building bone as well.- Phil Chilibek, U of S kinesiology professor

Chilibeck is putting about 100 women, who are 59 and older, through a nine month study. 

Nancy Allan is one of them. Since March she's been exercising for an hour, three times a week. 

After each session half of the participants are given ibuprofen. The others get a placebo.

"I think I'm getting it because I haven't had one slight physical sign that I've been exercising. No stiffness, no nothing the next day so that makes me think I'm taking the real thing. But I don't know."

Chilibeck expects participants who receive the ibuprofen will see about a five per cent increase in bone density. And that would translate into a substantial 25 per cent reduction in the chances of getting a fracture. He said he'll apply to do an even more extensive study of exercise and ibuprofen if the results of this study are positive.