Often seen as a supplement just for weightlifters, creatine is now supported by decades of clinical research showing significant benefits for muscle recovery, cellular repair, and exercise performance in all types of athletes—including runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes.
Here’s how…
1. Reduces Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Inflammation
Several studies indicate creatine helps mitigate muscle cell damage and decrease markers of inflammation, such as creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), following prolonged or intense exercise.
➤ Practical Outcome: Less DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), quicker return to training, and enhanced tissue repair.
📚 Cooke et al., 2009 “Creatine supplementation reduces muscle cell damage and inflammation following a marathon run.”
📚 Bassit et al., 2008 “Creatine supplementation reduced pro-inflammatory markers and muscle soreness after a 30km race.”
2. Accelerates ATP Resynthesis for Faster Recovery Between Sessions
Creatine’s primary function is to increase phosphocreatine stores in muscle tissue, which helps regenerate adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—the energy currency of your cells.
During high-volume aerobic or interval work, ATP is rapidly depleted. Supplementing with creatine accelerates ATP resynthesis, reducing fatigue and enabling quicker recovery between training bouts.
➤ Practical Outcome: Reduced rest time, improved repeat performance, and less post-session fatigue.
📚 Balsom et al., 1994; Greenhaff et al., 1993 “Creatine supplementation results in faster recovery of phosphocreatine during repeated bouts of exercise.”
