Piroxicam versus naproxen in the treatment of acute musculoskeletal disorders in athletes

Abstract Safe and effective therapy for acute musculoskeletal disorders would be extremely useful for competitive athletes. These injuries are common in these patients, who are usually highly motivated to return to their previous level of activity and performance. Because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be useful in inflammation-associated conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, it was believed that their use in competitive athletes may be warranted. This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of two NSAIDs, piroxicam and naproxen, in these patients. The patients included 34 men and women who had acute symptoms including restrictions of movement and limitation of physical activity as a result of sprains to the ankle, acromioclavicular joint, and interphalangeal joint of the hand or acute soft-tissue injury to the shoulder, knee, or about the hip. In a double-blind, comparative, parallel manner, patients were randomly allocated to receive piroxicam 40 mg daily for two days and then 20 mg once daily, or naproxen 500 mg twice daily for two days, then 375 mg twice daily. Both drugs improved virtually all measures of physical discomfort after three and seven days of treatment (p