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Could your creatine supplement be causing muscle stiffness and increasing your risk of injury?
According to researchers, anecdotal reports suggesting that creatine (Cr) supplementation may cause side effects, such as an increased incidence of muscle strains or tears, require scientific examination. In a recent study, researchers looked at whether the rapid fluid retention and "dry matter growth" evident after Cr supplementation caused an increase in (musculotendinous) stiffness which would increase the chance of injury during exercise.
Twenty men were randomly allocated to a control or an experimental group and were examined for (musculotendinous) stiffness of the triceps as well as for numerous performance indices, before and after Cr ingestion. The Cr group achieved a significant increase in body mass (79.7 + 10.8 kg vs. 80.9 + 10;7 kg), counter movement jump height (40.2 + 4.8cm vs. 42.7 + 5.9cm) and 20-cm drop jump height (32.3 + 3.3 cm vs. 35.1 + 4.8 cm) after supplementation. (The increase in jump performance is indicative of performance enhancement in activities requiring maximal power output.)
No increase was found for (musculotendinous) stiffness at any assessment load. And there were no significant changes in any variables within the control group.
Bottom line: While these findings have both performance- and injury-related implications, anecdotal evidence suggesting that Cr supplementation causes muscular strain injuries is not supported by this study.
According to researchers, anecdotal reports suggesting that creatine (Cr) supplementation may cause side effects, such as an increased incidence of muscle strains or tears, require scientific examination. In a recent study, researchers looked at whether the rapid fluid retention and "dry matter growth" evident after Cr supplementation caused an increase in (musculotendinous) stiffness which would increase the chance of injury during exercise.
Twenty men were randomly allocated to a control or an experimental group and were examined for (musculotendinous) stiffness of the triceps as well as for numerous performance indices, before and after Cr ingestion. The Cr group achieved a significant increase in body mass (79.7 + 10.8 kg vs. 80.9 + 10;7 kg), counter movement jump height (40.2 + 4.8cm vs. 42.7 + 5.9cm) and 20-cm drop jump height (32.3 + 3.3 cm vs. 35.1 + 4.8 cm) after supplementation. (The increase in jump performance is indicative of performance enhancement in activities requiring maximal power output.)
No increase was found for (musculotendinous) stiffness at any assessment load. And there were no significant changes in any variables within the control group.
Bottom line: While these findings have both performance- and injury-related implications, anecdotal evidence suggesting that Cr supplementation causes muscular strain injuries is not supported by this study.
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