EFFECT OF CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING CAST-INDUCED IMMOBILIZATION ON THE PRESERVATION OF MUSCLE MASS,
STRENGTH, AND ENDURANCE
ADAM P.W. JOHNSTON,1 DARREN G. BURKE,1 LAUREN G. MACNEIL,1
AND DARREN G. CANDOW
J Strength Cond Res 23(1): 116-120, 2009-
Muscle and strength loss will occur during periods of physical
inactivity and immobilization. Creatine supplementation may
have a favorable effect on muscle mass and strength
independently of exercise. The purpose of this study was to
determine the effects of creatine supplementation on upperlimb
muscle mass and muscle performance after immobilization.
Before the study, creatine-naý¨ve men (n = 7; 18-25 years) were
assessed for lean tissue mass (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry),
strength (1-repetition maximum [1RM] isometric single
arm elbow flexion/extension), and muscle endurance (maximum
number of single-arm isokinetic elbow flexion/extension repetitions
at 60% 1RM). After baseline measures, subjects had
their dominant or nondominant (random assignment) upper limb
immobilized (long arm plaster cast) at 90_ elbow flexion. Using
a single-blind crossover design, subjects received placebo
(maltodextrin; 4 3 5 g_d21) during days 1-7 and creatine
(4 35 g_d21) during days 15-21. The cast was removed during
days 8-14 and 22-29. The dependent measures of lean tissue
mass, strength, and endurance were assessed at baseline,
postcast, and after the study. During immobilization, compared
with isocaloric placebo, creatine supplementation better maintained
lean tissue mass (Cr +0.9% vs. PLA 23.7%, p , 0.05),
elbow flexor strength (Cr 24.1% vs. PLA 221.5%, p , 0.05),
and endurance (Cr 29.6% vs. PLA 243%, p , 0.05), and
elbow extensor strength (Cr 23.8% vs. PLA 218%, p , 0.05)
and endurance (Cr 26.5% vs. PLA 235%, p , 0.05). These
results indicate that short-term creatine supplementation
attenuates the loss in muscle mass and strength during
upper-arm immobilization in young men.