Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Collision Sports: The Need for Further Education in Rugby.

Rugby is a collision sport and the fastest growing sport in the United States. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be acquired without prescription, are used by millions of individuals daily. Athletes in collision sports such as rugby overuse them, and the management of these analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs is gaining importance to healthcare providers in sports because of their potential organ toxicities. Athletes, amateur and elite, may misconstrue the perceived advantages of NSAIDs and seem to be unaware of the serious complications arising from their overuse. This overuse of NSAIDs by athletes should cause heightened health concerns to players, coaches, and physicians when athletes are administered or self-administer these drugs. Key educational messages include avoidance of prophylactic and prolonged unsupervised use of NSAIDs, understand the risks of analgesic masking, make proper return-to-play decisions, and related organ toxicities. More education and awareness regarding NSAIDs and their side effects are needed.