Creatine, Muscle Torque, and Men
Many athletes take Creatine supplements with the understanding that their physical performance during their sport will be enhanced. This is one of the most commonly cited reasons for taking Creatine supplements in all age groups and with both genders. While more documentation is called for, a number of studies have explored the effects of taking oral supplements of Creatine.
One such study conducted by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Queens Medical Centre investigated the correlation between the intake of oral Creatine supplementation and muscle torque. K. Soderlund, E. Hultman, R. Harris, A.H. Short, and P.L. Greenhaff conducted the experiment. Twelve male subjects, broken into a control group and an experimental group, participated in the study. The subjects in the control group received a placebo containing glucose.
The subjects performed 5 sets of maximal voluntary isokinetic contractions before and after taking either the placebo or the Creatine supplement. Isokinetic contractions involve body movements that cause the muscle to shorten in the limb making the movement as tension increases. One example of this would be the arm stroke that occurs during swimming. During maximal voluntary isokinetic contractions, the resistance during the activity remains the same and the action is performed at a constant speed.
While no difference was noted among any of the subjects in the control group, marked differences were measured with the group that was on the Creatine supplementation. These subjects were discovered to display greater muscle peak torque production after Creatine ingestion. The term muscle peak torque production refers to the maximum torque or force that occurs during a particular muscle contraction. Torque refers to the force needed to overcome resistance and perform the action. The results of this study suggest that oral doses of Creatine can result in enhanced performance in certain activities.
Works Cited:
P.L. Greenhaff, K. Soderlund, E. Hultman, R. Harris, A.H. Short, and A. Casey. Clin Sci, 1993 May, 84 (5): 565-71
Intro: Can oral doses of Creatine improve muscle torque in men? One study, in particular, indicates that it does. Read more to discover what the results were.
