THE EFFECT OF CREATINE MONOHYDRATE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING COMBINED STRENGTH AND HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING ON PERFORMANCE IN ROWERS

Abstract

1289 The influence of creatine monohydrate (Cr) supplementation on performance and the ability to perform a greater volume of training has produced controversial findings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cr supplementation on performance and training volume in rowers while performing combined strength and high intensity training (HIT). Twenty-three male and female rowers performed the same HIT 4 times a week that consisted of a combination of continuous and interval exercises and strength training 2 times a week on different days for 3 weeks prior to random assignment into a Cr supplementation or placebo group. Cr supplementation consisted of a 5 day load of 0.30 g/kg body weight followed by a maintenance dose of 0.03 g/kg body weight for 5 weeks while performing a periodized strength and high intensity training program. Five days of Cr significantly increased body mass by 0.70 kg but did not improve repeated interval rowing performance, 2000 m rowing performance or repeated strength performance. Subsequently, maximal oxygen consumption, 2000 m rowing performance time, repeated interval performance and strength significantly increased similarly in both groups after 5 weeks of combined training. The ability to perform more repetitions per set of strength exercise for bench press and leg press after 5 weeks of training was not greater with Cr supplementation. Also, the ability to maintain power output during repeated 250 m and 500 m high intensity intervals during training was not significantly greater with Cr supplementation compared to placebo. These findings indicate that Cr supplementation did not increase performance or training volume greater than the placebo condition in rowers that performed a combined strength and high intensity training program.