Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Repetitive Sprint Performance and Body Composition in Competitive Swimmers

The effects of creatine supplementation on thermoregulation and physical (cognitive) performance: a review and future prospects

“…1915;Hunter 1922). Cr supplementation has been reported to improve physical performance during a variety of different exercise modalities, intensities and durations and to promote greater gains in strength, muscle mass, bone mineral density and neuromuscular function in populations ranging from trained healthy individuals to the elderly with sarcopenia undergoing exercise rehabilitation (Bosco et al 1997;Grindstaff et al 1997;Mihic et al 2000;Metzl et al 2001;Mihic et al 2000;Hespel et al 2001;Volek et al 2004;Pearlman and Fielding, 2006;Bazzucchi et al 2009;Bemben et al 2010;Devries and Phillips, 2014;Gualano et al 2011;Gualano et al 2014;Candow et al 2015;Chillibeck et al, 2015;Griffen C et al 2015;Martone et al 2015;Ramirez-Campilo et al, 2015;Wilkinson et al 2015, Phillips, 2015 (see Table 1). The mechanism(s) responsible for these effects range from Cr-induced increases in intramuscular phosphocreatine (PCr) levels and the PCr/ATP energy charge ratio, as well as a greater resynthesis rate of PCr following intense exercise, leading to a higher efficiency of ATP utilisation (Wallimann et al 2011) and to attenuated cardiovascular and thermoregulatory responses during prolonged exercise in the heat (Demant and Rhodes, 1999;Terjung et al 2000;Lopez et al 2009).…”

Creatine Supplementation and Its Effect on Musculotendinous Stiffness and Performance

“…The 2 proposed mechanisms for this performance enhancement are (a) an enhanced storage of phosphocreatine, leading to improved energy levels that contribute to an enhanced 26 force and power output (11,16,24) and (b) a more rapid and efficient recovery period (11,16,18).…”

Oral Creatine Hydrochloride Supplementation: Acute Effects on Submaximal, Intermittent Bouts of Bench Press and Vertical Jump Exercises

“…110 As for the ergometer for the upper extremity, sprint performance was significantly increased for the first of the three trials and in comparison to the Pl group, they showed 7.8%, 5.3%, and 0.5% increases in performance, respectively, across all three trials. 110 The authors concluded that CrH2O supplementation may enhance repetitive sprint-swim performance among competitive junior swimmers. 110 Again, it is important to note that not all studies have found CrH2O supplementation to instigate ergogenic benefits.…”

“…110 The authors concluded that CrH2O supplementation may enhance repetitive sprint-swim performance among competitive junior swimmers. 110 Again, it is important to note that not all studies have found CrH2O supplementation to instigate ergogenic benefits. 82,[111][112][113][114][115][116][117] It remains uncertain as to why there has been some discrepancies in the literature, though it has been suggested the disparities may perhaps be due to: 1) placebo effects, 2) differing performance tasks used across studies, 3) small magnitudes of treatment effects, 4) relatively vast test-retest reliability error for the measurement of the given performance tasks, and 5) most likely because Cr supplementation is meant to increase intramuscular TCr stores, and as will be reviewed below, not everyone positively responds to Cr supplementation when consumed by itself.…”

“…While some acute performance increases occurred as well (eg, trial-1 on upper-extremity ergometer testing and 1RM bench press performance), the majority of the ergogenic benefits came from repeated bouts of executing a single performance task. 110 As for the supplemental protocols, participants who were in the experimental Cr groups were typically supplemented with about 20-30 g CrH2O·d -1 . This dose was shown by Harris and colleagues to adequately increase intramuscular TCr content among most participants, and thus, has been used in the hundreds of Cr studies since.…”