subject: Relieving muscle aches with Creatine supplements [print this page] Relieving muscle aches with Creatine supplements
Creatine supplements can help athletes with statin-induced muscle aches, weakness, and symptoms of myalgia, according to studies undertaken by America's John Hopkins School of Public Health over a 6-week period.
This is good news for athletes who commonly experience these symptoms. Symptoms of Myalgia, the intense muscle pain often brought on by excessive exercise, were diminished in 12 patients after 6 weeks of creatine loading and therapy. The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and showed that symptoms of Myopathy, a muscle-wasting disease, were also reduced for 8 in 10 patients using creatine therapy.
Creatine is a naturally occurring organic acid, produced in all vertebrates when any intense exercise is undertaken. Although it helps provide your body with the energy it needs to undertake this exercise, it only stores in your body for a maximum of 10 seconds, meaning overtly intense exercise cannot be maintained for long periods.
In addition to the aforementioned medical benefits, additional creatine intake can also help increase your energy levels, and support your muscles, helping them to grow and develop faster. It can help you recover quicker from intense workouts, and give your muscles a fuller looking appearance.
The American study, discussed at 6minutes.com, supports the theory that statin-induced muscle pain (statins are drugs used to control cholesterol) can be directly linked to the depletion of the body's internal creatine stores.
Creatine can be used as a very effective body-building tool, if used properly. Be sure to take trusted advice as to how much you should take for your height, build and weight, and drink plenty of water alongside the supplement. Take the supplement about an hour before you work out, and make sure you do actually work out - creatine will definitely help you along, but you have to put in the work required to kick-start the process.
