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Rest, rehabilitation, and patience are the cornerstones of recovering from an injury. But is there room for alcohol during that process? Experts say no.
Recent studies show even a small amount of alcohol can hinder recovery. John Keely, a researcher in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the University of Limerick, outlined five reasons why drinking during injury treatment is a bad idea.
Disruption of Immune Function
Alcohol impairs immune cells’ ability to repair damaged tissue. It slows the regeneration of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, hampers the clearing of damaged cells, increases swelling, and delays the return of normal sensation.
Heavy drinking (more than 4–5 drinks at a time) makes the body more vulnerable to infection and can delay recovery by three to five days. Even moderate drinking (1–3 drinks) slows tissue regeneration and prolongs swelling and pain at the injury site.
Obstacle to Muscle Recovery
After moderate alcohol consumption, muscle protein synthesis — a crucial process for muscle recovery and rebuilding — is slowed for 24 to 48 hours. One recent study found that after consuming alcohol, muscle protein synthesis falls by about 24 to 37 percent.
When this process is disrupted, muscle regeneration is delayed, causing weakness, soreness, and a greater risk of re-injury.
Delayed Healing of Bones and Tissues
When an injury damages bone, ligament, tendon, or muscle, signals from those tissues trigger the body’s natural healing. Alcohol interferes with those signals and with the body’s recovery mechanisms, delaying healing and increasing swelling and scarring.
Alcohol abuse can slow healing of bone fractures by one to two weeks and extend recovery from sprains and strains by two to three weeks.
Disruption of Hormonal Balance
Hormones coordinate many aspects of healing, including tissue and muscle repair and inflammation control. Testosterone and growth hormone are especially important; both help rebuild muscle and connective tissue after injury, Keely explained.
Alcohol lowers circulating levels of those hormones while raising cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Elevated cortisol diverts energy away from repair and promotes the breakdown of healthy tissue, especially muscle, into simpler molecules for quick energy. These imbalances can persist for several days after drinking and significantly slow tissue recovery, according to Science Alert.
Increased Risk of Re-Injury
A clear connection between the brain and the body is essential for smooth, precise, coordinated movement. Alcohol disrupts that connection.
As a result, coordination, balance, and reaction time can decline sharply. Minor movement impairments caused by even moderate drinking can linger for several days, increasing the chance of movement errors and re-injury to already vulnerable tissues.
Researchers increasingly argue there is no safe amount of alcohol during rehabilitation. Even light or moderate drinking worsens recovery from injuries.
Keely believes the less someone drinks during treatment, the better their chances for a quick, complete recovery. Ultimately, to support healing, it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether.
