The Individual and Concomitant Effect of Creatine Monohydrate and Recovery on Metabolic Fatigue after Interval Bouts of Maximal Swimming

This study aimed at examining the individual and concomitant effect of creatine (Cr) monohydrate supplement and in-water or out-of-water active recovery on markers related to metabolic fatigue after interval bouts of maximal swimming in men. 16 young male swimmers (19±4 years old, 75±12 kg) volunteered to participate in this study and performed two protocols of IN or OUT recovery. The subjects performed six bouts of 50-m maximal swimming with a 120-second interval between each two bouts with either IN or OUT recoveries and also with or without Cr supplement. Blood samples were gathered from antecubital vein at rest and after the third and sixth bout of maximal swimming. Levels of ATP, PCr, ammonia and urea were measured following both in-water and out-of-water active recoveries and with or without of Cr supplement. ANOVA with repeated measures showed that ATP and PCr concentration drastically decreased gradually after the third and sixth bout of sprint swimming in both in-water and out-of-water recoveries. Also, the ATP and PCr levels were higher after Cr supplement after both in-water and out-of-water recoveries thanbefore Cr supplement period. In contrast, ammonia and urea were less in the in-water recovery group than out-of-water recovery group. Furthermore, ammonia and urea levels increased with Cr supplement, irrespective of in-water or out-of-water recoveries. These results suggested that Cr supplement and active recovery, especially in-water recovery, may delay metabolic fatigue following the maximal interval swimming bouts.