Ibuprofen is a good anti-inflammatory. I sure wouldn't take it every day, but I think it has its place. I have a rotator cuff injury that acts up from time to time. My doc's explanation was that the inflammation is self-perpetuating in that while swollen and inflamed, pretty much any movement continues to irritate it. It takes a day or two of Ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation enough that it can heal.