This article concludes that patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be advised to take antibiotics as to prevent them from the secondary infections which may keep them from healing quickly. I find the argument logically unreasonable in several respects.
One problem is that the author’s conclusion about secondary infections will keep patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain due to the comparison study is not statistically reliable. Yet ,the first group of patients may be younger and stronger on average which means they are physically superior. that would lead to quicker healing time obviously. Or they are just less serious in degree comparing with the other group members. What’s more, these two groups were taken care by doctors in different majors. What if apart from the pills, the first group take much soft exercise while the others do nothing and actually the exercise affect all accordingly. Since the author fail to list out these and other possible explanations, the author cannot make any sound recommendations to the study.
Even assuming that the two samples are convincing, the author provide no evidence showing that the first group’s average recuperation time is quicker than the latter one. The author mentioned that the first group’s result were 40percent quicker than typically expected, but he did not say whether it is shorter or longer than that of the second group. and from what was the second group’s average recuperation time is not significantly reduced? The standard were quite unclear. unless the author substantiates all the records I remain unconvinced that taking antibiotics benefit the healing.
While the secondary infection do slow down the healing, one must say not every patient need to take antibiotics. Some muscle strain are not that serious as to suffer secondary infection, some may even be allergic to antibiotics. It is entirely possible that after further research there would be opposite answers. Therefore, the author cannot confidently draw any general conclusion about taking antibiotics as part of every patient’s with muscle strain treatment without thoroughly researched.
In sum, the author’s argument is not persuasive. To bolster it he must provide more specific information on the difference healing time between the one who take antibiotics and the one not.