The effects of creatine dietary supplementation on anterior compartment pressure in the lower leg during rest and following exercise

Objective: To examine the effects: of creatine supplementation on anterior compartment pressure of the lower leg at rest and following exercise. Design: 14 college-age males received creatine or placebo supplementation f or 34 days. At baseline, anterior compartment pressure was measured preexer cise, immediately postexercise, and 1,5, and 15 minutes postexercise after a level treadmill run for 20 minutes at 80% of maximal aerobic power. Intervention: Following baseline testing, subjects began a 6-day creatine o r placebo loading phase at a dosage of 0.3 g . kg body mass(-1) . d(-1). Th is was followed by a 28-day maintenance phase at a dosage of 0.03 g . kg bo dy mass(-1) . d(-1). Subjects and investigators were blinded as to treatmen t administration. Subjects continued to exercise during the supplementation period. After 6 days and 34 days of supplementation, anterior compartment pressure was: measured at rest and following exercise. Results: Creatine supplementation for 6 days significantly increased compar tment pressure compared with the placebo group at rest (76%), immediately p ost- (150%), 1 minute post(125%), 5 minute post- (106%), and 15 minute post exercise (77%). Anterior compartment pressures continued to remain signific antly higher for the creatine group compared with the placebo group at rest (72%), immediately post- (125%) and 1 minute postexercise (180%) after 34 days of creatine: supplementation. Conclusions: These data indicate that creatine supplementation abnormally i ncreases anterior compartment pressure in the lower leg at rest and followi ng 20 minutes of level running at 808% of maximal aerobic power.