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The Performance Enhancing Effects of Creatine

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The Performance Enhancing Effects of Creatine
The Performance Enhancing Effects of Creatine Everybody in youth has dreamt about that final deciding moment is sports whether it was the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded in game seven of the World Series, or if it was draining a three pointer at the buzzer of an NBA finals game, or even a game winning diving catch during the Superbowl. These moments are what athletes live for. This is what an athlete puts their blood sweat and tears into. They train like there is no tomorrow, working to become the best they can be. They study the game, practice, workout, and strive to reach their full potential. What if there was a way to increase ones performance by taking a pill? Ergogenic aids are “work producing” substances that athletes take to increase performance (Wilmore, Costill, & Kenney, 2008). While there may not be a magic pill that can transform a non-athlete into a superstar. However, there may be some ergogenic aids that can help an average athlete outcompete his opponent. This study will be looking into the effects of creatine on athletic ability. As a former college baseball player and current college coach, I want to find a supplement that can help an already athletic individual increase their athletic potential. If creatine is an effective substance, it would be beneficial for my baseball team to begin supplementing creatine into their diets. During my college baseball days, I took several pre-workout supplements and several post-workout supplements. I changed supplements due to flavor, recommendation, NCAA requirements, and personal preference. I never once took creatine because of some of the negative things I had heard about dehydration in connection to taking the supplement. Several of my teammates took it but not regularly. Everything I learned about creatine was through the rumor mill rather through scientific fact. Does creatine efficiently increase athletic performance and is it a worthwhile substance for baseball players to take?


References: Arazi, H., Rahmaninia, F., Hoseini, K., & Asadi, A. (2011). Effects of three, five, and seven days of creatine loading on muscle volume and functional performance. Serbian Journal Of Sports Sciences, 5(3), 99-105. Creatine supplementation with specific view to exercise/sports performance: an update. (2012). Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 9(1), 33-43. Faraji, H., Arazi, H., Vatani, D., & Hakimi, M. (2010). The effects of creatine supplementation on sprint running performance and selected hormonal responses / Die effek van kreatienaanvulling (of supplementasie) op naelloopprestasie en geselekteerde hormonale response. South African Journal For Research In Sport, Physical Education & Recreation (SAJR SPER), 32(2), 31-39. Fleisig, G. (2010). Biomechanics of baseball pitching: Implication for injury and performance. International Symposium On Biomechanics In Sports: Conference Proceedings Archive, 28,46-50. Lamontagne-Lacasse, M., Nadon, R., & Goulet, E. B. (2011). Effect of creatine supplementation on jumping performance in elite volleyball players. International Journal Of Sports Physiology & Performance, 6(4), 525-533. Webster, I., Huisamen, B., & Du Toit, E. F. (2011). Creatine and exercise -- Strong evidence for stronger heart muscle?. Journal Of Exercise Physiology Online, 14(5), 85-108. Wilmore, J., Costill, D., & Kenney, W. (2008). Physiology of sport and exercise (4th ed.). Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.

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