Creatine supplementation enhances muscle force recovery after eccentrically-induced muscle damage in healthy individuals

Matthew B Cooke,Andrew D Williams,Alan Hayes,Emma Rybalka,Paul J Cribb

doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-13

Matthew B Cooke, Andrew D Williams + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-6-13

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Abstract

BackgroundEccentric exercise-induced damage leads to reductions in muscle force, increased soreness, and impaired muscle function. Creatine monohydrate's (Cr) ergogenic potential is well established; however few studies have directly examined the effects of Cr supplementation on recovery after damage. We examined the effects of Cr supplementation on muscle proteins and force recovery after eccentrically-induced muscle damage in healthy individuals.MethodsFourteen untrained male participants (22.1 ± 2.3 yrs, 173 ± 7.7 cm, 76.2 ± 9.3 kg) were randomly separated into 2 supplement groups: i) Cr and carbohydrate (Cr-CHO; n = 7); or ii) carbohydrate (CHO; n = 7). Participants consumed their supplement for a period of 5 days prior to, and 14 days following a resistance exercise session. Participants performed 4 sets of 10 eccentric-only repetitions at 120% of their maximum concentric 1-RM on the leg press, leg extension and leg flexion exercise machine. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assessed as relevant blood markers of muscle damage. Muscle strength was examined by voluntary isokinetic knee extension using a Cybex dynamometer. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with an alpha of 0.05.ResultsThe Cr-supplemented group had significantly greater isokinetic (10% higher) and isometric (21% higher) knee extension strength during recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Furthermore, plasma CK activity was significantly lower (by an average of 84%) after 48 hrs (P < 0.01), 72 hrs (P < 0.001), 96 hrs (P < 0.0001), and 7 days (P < 0.001) recovery in the Cr-supplemented group.ConclusionThe major finding of this investigation was a significant improvement in the rate of recovery of knee extensor muscle function after Cr supplementation following injury.

Highlights

Eccentric exercise-induced damage leads to reductions in muscle force, increased soreness, and impaired muscle function
The trauma created by this type of exercise initiates a myriad of events that lead to reductions in muscle force, increased soreness, and impaired muscle function [1,2]
The study showed that maximal isometric force of the elbow flexors, and serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, in response to eccentric exercise were not significantly different between the Creatine monohydrate (Cr)-supplemented and control groups during the 5 days following exercise

Summary

Introduction

Eccentric exercise-induced damage leads to reductions in muscle force, increased soreness, and impaired muscle function. Creatine monohydrate's (Cr) ergogenic potential is well established; few studies have directly examined the effects of Cr supplementation on recovery after damage. We examined the effects of Cr supplementation on muscle proteins and force recovery after eccentrically-induced muscle damage in healthy individuals. The study showed that maximal isometric force of the elbow flexors, and serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, in response to eccentric exercise were not significantly different between the Cr-supplemented and control groups during the 5 days following exercise. It was suggested that Cr supplementation does not reduce indirect markers of muscle damage or enhance recovery from high-force eccentric exercise. Since injury assessment was only muscle function based, these were not measured

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