Sixty-eight football players suffering from moderate to severe soft-tissue injuries were studies for up to 14 days. Treatment was either 550 mg naproxen sodium or 100 mg dextropropoxyphene napsylate initially and then 275 mg naproxen sodium or 100 mg dextropropoxyphene napsylate 4-times daily. Signs and symptoms were assessed daily on 4-point scales. The time taken for patients to return to training and be available for selection were recorded. The outcome of treatment of signs and symptoms was very similar for both groups, the only statistically significant difference detected being for the amount of swelling, which showed greater improvement in the naproxen sodium group on Days 2 to 6. Patients in the naproxen sodium group returned to training approximately 1 day sooner than those in the dextropropoxyphene napsylate group. The majority of patients in both treatment groups did not require treatment for 14 days. The duration of treatment in the naproxen sodium group, however, was shorter, with 59% stopping medication by Day 10, as compared to 33% in the dextropropoxyphene napsylate group (p=0.03). Nine patients in the naproxen sodium group and 6 in the dextropropoxyphene napsylate group reported side-effects, all gastro-intestinal in origin. One patient in the former group was withdrawn because of the reaction. There were three further withdrawals. One patient in the naproxen sodium group was referred for surgery, 1 patient in the dextropropoxyphene napsylate group was lost to follow-up and the final patient withdrew because of lack of efficacy. Both treatments were effective and well tolerated but the patients in the naproxen sodium group showed a more beneficial response.