Neuromuscular properties and fatigue in older men following acute creatine supplementation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation in 12 older (65–82 years) men. The subjects were randomly assigned to a Cr or a placebo (P) group. Seven men were supplemented with 5 g of Cr and 5 g maltodextrin four times a day for 5 days (Cr), and 5 men consumed 5 g of maltodextrin four times a day for 5 days (P). Following this treatment body mass increased significantly in the Cr group (1 kg), but did not change in the P group, and measurements of arm anthropometry were not affected in either group. Prior to and following supplementation maximal isometric voluntary force (MVC), muscle activation, contractile properties and surface electromyography (EMG) were measured in the elbow flexor muscles at baseline, during a fatiguing task and over 10 min of recovery. The fatigue protocol involved both voluntary and contractile stimulated. Stimulated contractile properties, MVC, and muscle activation were not affected by Cr supplementation. Furthermore, there were no changes in time to fatigue, decline in MVC force, muscle activation, EMG or contractile properties during the fatigue protocol. The rates of recovery of voluntary force, and stimulated contractile force did not change following Cr supplementation. These results indicate that short-term Cr supplementation in older men does not influence isometric performance of the elbow flexor muscles.