Many people take ibuprofen before a strenuous workout–sometimes every day–to guard against muscle pain. However, a new study published in the December, 2012, issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise has determined that there’s absolutely no benefit to taking ibuprofen or similar anti-inflammatory painkillers before a workout. The study also demonstrates that pre-workout ibuprofen use is “not harmless”—in fact, doing so can cause significant physical damage, particularly to the intestines.