Creatine Supplementation For Weak Muscles In Persons With Chronic Tetraplegia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

• Published in: The journal of spinal cord medicine 2005-01, Vol.28 (3), p.208-213
• Main Authors: Kendall, Richard W., Jacquemin, Geraldine J., Frost, Randee, Burns, Stephen P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cervical Vertebrae; Chronic Disease; Creatine; Creatine - therapeutic use; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Fatigue; Female; Hand; Hand Strength; Humans; Isometric Contraction - drug effects; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle strength; Muscle Weakness - drug therapy; Muscle Weakness - etiology; Muscle Weakness - physiopathology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Physical Endurance; Quadriplegia - complications; Quadriplegia - etiology; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Tetraplegia; Treatment Failure; Wrist
• ISSN: 1079-0268; 2045-7723
• DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2005.11753814

Background and Objectives:Creatine supplementation improves muscle strength in some patient populations with neurologic disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine whether creatine supplementation improves muscle strength and endurance in weak upper limb muscles in persons with tetraplegia, and whether it improves function. Methods: Outpatients with tetraplegia and mild wrist extensor weakness were randomized to receive either creatine or placebo in a double-blind cross over design. During creatine supplementation, participants wereloaded with 10 g orally twice per day for 6 days, then maintained on 5 g daily until undergoing testing.Main outcome measures, performed at baseline, after placebo, and after creatine supplementation, included maximalvoluntary wrist extensor isometric contraction strength (MVC), endurance times for 5 submaximalwrist extensor contractions, and the Grasp and Release Test for hand function. Results: Eight individuals (7 men, 1 woman) with tetraplegia met inclusion criteria and completed all study phases. The mean age of participants was 48 years, and7 of 8 had C6 motor level injuries. There were nosignificant differences in MVC, endurance times, or hand function for creatine vs placebo. Conclusion: Creatine does not improve MVC and endurance of weak wrist extensors and does not improvehand function in individuals with tetraplegia.