Original Article
Spinal Cord (2006) 44, 275–279. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101840; published online 20 September 2005
Influence of creatine supplementation on 800 m wheelchair performance: a pilot study
C Perret1, G Mueller2 and H Knecht1
- 1Institute for Clinical Research, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
- 2Institute for Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
Correspondence: C Perret, Institute for Clinical Research, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, CH-6207 Nottwil, Switzerland
Abstract
Study design:
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomly assigned, crossover.
Objective:
To assess the influence of a short-term oral creatine supplementation on 800 m wheelchair performance.
Setting:
Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland.
Subjects:
In total, six (four male, two female subjects) competitive wheelchair athletes participated in the study. Their age was 33.0
9.1 years, height 171.57.7 cm and weight 63.16.2 kg. Average weekly training volume was 10.03.7 h. All of them have been engaged in regular training for over 10.57.2 years.
Methods:
During the two treatment periods, subjects ingested 4 
5 g of creatine monohydrate or placebo (maltodextrin) daily during 6 days in a randomised order. A washout period of 4 weeks lay in-between the two supplementation periods. Before and after each treatment period athletes performed an all-out 800 m wheelchair test on a training roller. Time to complete 800 m, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), lactate concentrations and heart rate were measured. Before each test, body weight was determined.
Results:
Times to complete 800 m before and after creatine supplementation (102.813.9 versus 100.511.3 s) compared to before and after placebo supplementation (101.615.6 versus 99.513.8 s) were not significantly different. Moreover, for all other parameters measured, no significant differences between creatine and placebo supplementation were found.
Conclusion:
A short-term oral creatine supplementation compared to placebo seems not to enhance performance over 800 m in trained, spinal cord-injured, wheelchair athletes.
Keywords:
SCI, wheelchair racing, RPE, exercise performance, creatine
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