ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2020
Epidemiological profile of pain and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug use in collegiate athletes in the United States.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Clinical Practice Guidelines for Topical NSAIDs in the Treatment of Sports Injuries.Journal of evidence-based medicine · 2025Guideline
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Collision Sports: The Need for Further Education in Rugby.Cureus · 2026Article
- Current Evidence of Ergogenic and Post-Exercise Recovery Effects of Dietary Supplementation withNutrients · 2026Review
- Frequency and Correlates of Physical Activity Among Young Adults With Chronic Pain.The Clinical journal of pain · 2025Article
- Nonsteroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use in Female Elite Ice Hockey Players With and Without Previous Concussions and Musculoskeletal Injuries.European journal of sport science · 2025Article
- Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy in Athletes: A Cautious Compromise… If Possible!Journal of cardiovascular development and disease · 2025Review
- Ibuprofen, Flurbiprofen or Naproxen Sodium Minimally Influences Musculoskeletal Adaptations to Treadmill Exercise in Rats.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2025Article
- Neuropsychological Performance: How Mental Health Drives Attentional Function in University-Level Football Athletes.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The dose-response effects of flurbiprofen, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and naproxen on primary skeletal muscle cells.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2024Article
- Painkiller intake and problematic health literacy in sport and music students - A cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- To play or not to play, that is the question: an interview study with amateur football coaches on perceptions of pain during sports participation.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2024Article
- Uses of Health Care System Medical Care Services by Athletes After Injury at the High School Level.The Journal of school health · 2023Article
- Effect of Quercetin on Injury to Indomethacin-Treated Human Embryonic Kidney 293 Cells.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAlthough athletic endeavours are associated with a high amount of physical stress and injury, the prevalence of pain is underreported in the sports medicine literature with only a few studies reporting pain on collegiate athletes or exploring sex difference of pain. Impact of pain on athlete availability, training and performance can be mitigated when key epidemiological information is used to inform adequate pain management strategies. This study aims to 1) provide an epidemiological profile of self-reported pain experienced by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes by sex during the first half of the 2019 season, 2) describe their self-reported non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use.
methodsOnline survey was completed by athletes at three NCAA institutions from 1 August to 30 September 2019. Descriptive statistics were used to describe player demographic data, self-reported pain and self-reported NSAID use. Pain incidence proportion were calculated.
resultsTwo hundred thirty female athletes and 83 male athletes completed the survey. Self-reported pain incidence proportion for female athletes was 45.0 (95% CI 41.5-48.5) vs 34.9 (95% CI 29.4-40.4) for male athletes. Majority of the athletes did not report pain (55% female vs 62% male) during the first half of the 2019 season. Female athletes reported pain in their back (35%), knee (26%), and ankle/foot (23%) whilst male athletes reported pain in their knee (35%), back (28%), and shoulder (24%). Of all athletes, 28% female vs 20% male athletes reported currently taking NSAIDs. Of athletes that reported pain, 46% female vs 38% male athletes currently took NSAIDs. 70% female vs 61% male athletes self-purchased NSAIDs, and 40% female vs 55% male athletes consumed alcohol.
conclusionsHalf of female athletes and one in three male athletes reported pain. Most commonly back, knee and foot/ankle pain and knee, back and shoulder pain was reported in female and male athletes respectively. One in four female athletes and one in five male athletes use NSAIDs for pain or prophylactic purpose. Majority self-purchase these medications indicating need for health literacy interventions to mitigate potential adverse effects.
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