Amateur endurance athletes’ use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs: a cross‐sectional survey

Objective To explore amateur endurance athletes’ use and views about non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs ( NSAID s). Methods An online cross‐sectional survey of amateur athletes at four athletic clubs. Key findings Of a sample of 129 of amateur athletes, 68% ( n  = 88) reported using NSAID s in the previous 12 months (84.4% in triathletes, 70.9% in runners and 52.5% in cyclists). Overall, ibuprofen was the most popular drug ( n  = 48). There was a lack of knowledge of adverse drug reactions, with only 26% of use advised by a doctor or pharmacist. Conclusions There is high usage of NSAID s in amateur athletes, including before and during events, largely without professional health advice. Informational needs of amateur athletes are not being met.