Tylenol After a Marathon- Does it Help or Hurt?

Participants treated with acetaminophen extended release (ER) reported a significantly greater decrease in the primary endpoint of average change from baseline in muscle soreness on the day of the marathon (day 1) than did placebo. In addition, the adjusted mean average interference with sleep was significantly lower for acetaminophen ER than for placebo. -A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Acetaminophen Extended Release for Treatment of Post-marathon Muscle Soreness.

BUT WAIT! Read this comprehensive review by Jonathan Savage on the NEGATIVE impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories on post run recovery and healing.

MY COMMENT: Let nature take it's course after a marathon, have a few beers, and forego the tylenol.

Ice Baths May be Counterproductive!

So it makes sense that if we're doing all this muscle training, and getting this damage and inflammatory response, [that] if we knocked it out right afterward with icing, anti-inflammatories or what have you, that we're decreasing the stimulus the body gets, and it's not going to adapt as much as it would if we just left it alone," -elite distance coach Steve Magness commenting on why post workout ice baths routinely used by world class distance runners, may not be a good idea. -Running Times

Ten Minute Post Run Massage Helps Reduce Inflammation!

When administered to skeletal muscle that has been acutely damaged through exercise, massage therapy appears to be clinically beneficial by reducing inflammation and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. -Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

For more on this finding read the story at Sweat Science. 

From now on, I will be using my Rumble Roller after particiularly hard or long workouts.