A Comparison of Indoprofen and Indomethacin in the Supportive Treatment of Soft-Tissue Injuries in Football Players: A Pilot Study

Twenty-four professional footballers suffering from recent soft-tissue injuries were included in a double-blind pilot trial comparing the efficacy and tolerability of indoprofen 800 mg/day and indomethacin 80 mg/day. Twelve subjects were allocated at random to each of the two drugs. Mean reduction of pain and swelling by the 3rd day of treatment was greater in the indoprofen group, as was the rate of disappearance of these symptoms, calculated in terms of t 1/2. A statistically significant (p less than 0.05) superiority of indoprofen versus indomethacin was, however, reached only for pain elicited by active movement. No adverse reactions were recorded with either drug.