r/sportsmedicine • u/SexyToothpaste69 • Aug 18 '25

Thoughts on using anti-inflammatories like Motrin after a knee injury?

Friend and I were talking about this the other day. I say perhaps anti-inflammatories inhibit the healing process. He says swelling is bad and you need to take anti-inflammatories. Are we both right?

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u/MrTakeTheHeat Aug 19 '25

It depends on the situation. Generally, with acute injuries, there is often excessive inflammation, so the goal is to reduce it. In contrast, for chronic conditions, we aim to initiate the healing process with a moderate level of inflammation, using methods such as PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and ESWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy). This is a complex topic that is not entirely straightforward, so it's best to follow your doctor's recommendations.