| Nutritional
supplements are popular among athletes participating in a wide variety
of sports. Creatine is one of the most commonly used dietary supplements,
as it has been shown to be beneficial in improving performance during
repeated bouts of high-intensity anaerobic activity. This review examines
the specific effects of creatine supplementation on swimming performance,
and considers the effects of creatine supplementation on various measures
of power development in this population. Research performed on the
effect of creatine supplementation on swimming performance indicates
that whilst creatine supplementation is ineffective in improving performance
during a single sprint swim, dietary creatine supplementation may
benefit repeated interval swim set performance. Considering the relationship
between sprint swimming performance and measurements of power, the
effect of creatine supplementation on power development in swimmers
has also been examined. When measured on a swim bench ergometer, power
development does show some improvement following a creatine supplementation
regime. How this improvement in power output transfers to performance
in the pool is uncertain. Although some evidence exists to suggest
a gender effect on the performance improvements seen in swimmers following
creatine supplementation, the majority of research indicates that
male and female swimmers respond equally to supplementation. A major
limitation to previous research is the lack of consideration given
to the possible stroke dependant effect of creatine supplementation
on swimming performance. The majority of the research conducted to
date has involved examination of the freestyle swimming stroke only.
The potential for performance improvements in the breaststroke and
butterfly swimming strokes is discussed, with regards to the biomechanical
differences and differences in efficiency between these strokes and
freestyle.
KEY
WORDS: Phosphocreatine, breaststroke, butterfly, ergometer,
power, gender.
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