Abstract
Limb immobilization (casting) results in a loss of muscle mass along with decrements in muscle strength and endurance. In addition, immobilization has been shown to impair high energy phosphate catabolism in skeletal muscle. Creatine ingestion in conjunction with resistance training can significantly increase muscle force production, augment muscle size increases, and improve energy-rich phosphate catabolism in skeletal muscle. Surprisingly, there are few research studies investigating the potential of oral creatine supplementation to mitigate the muscle changes during immobilization. Early investigations found that creatine supplementation can maintain muscle size, strength, and endurance during short-term (1-2 wk) immobilization. Future research should focus on whether creatine supplementation can also prevent muscle metabolic consequences during immobilization. Creatine ingestion during short-term immobilization may help to identify the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the reported ergogenic effects.
Highlights
The effects of muscle disuse include decreasein muscle CrossSectional Area (CSA) [1], reduced muscle specific force [2,3], alterations in muscle contractile properties [4], increased muscle protein degradation [5], change in muscle fiber type distribution from type I to type II fibers [6], neuromuscular adjustments [7], and a shift in muscle metabolic properties including loss of oxidative properties [8]
Creatine Kinase (CK) catalyzes the reversible transfer of the γ-phosphate group of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) to the guanidine group of Cr to yield Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP), phosphocreatine (PCr) and a Proton (H+) (Figure 1)
The goal of this article is to review the role of Cr in muscle energy metabolism and exercise performance, muscle function, the consequences of muscle disuse during immobilization, and to argue for the potential use of oral Cr supplementation to minimize the changes in muscle size and function during immobilization
Summary
Exploring the Potential of Creatine Ingestion to Maintain Muscle Function during Immobilization. Fransen1* and Suzanne Schneider2 1Exercise Science Program, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, USA 2Exercise Science Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA. Received: 16 September, 2014; Accepted: 28 July, 2015; Published: 20 August, 2015
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