The Health and Exercise Science department of OU has decided to start the month of August off with another creatine study. This study will not just involve weights and resistance training, but cardiovascular, muscle contraction, and neuromuscular training as well.
A lot of studies are conducted at the Health and Exercise Science laboratory, and some seem similar, but in order to get results, multiple studies must be performed to receive actual facts.
Creatine is a nitrogen–containing compound that combines with phosphate to form the high-energy compound creatine phosphate (or phosphocreatine) in muscle. Creatine is claimed to enhance energy use and muscle strengths needed for further performances, according to segarsfw.com
"I have always heard that the HES department was always doing studies that involved creatine or a protein," OU Junior Andrew Beckons said. "I want to sign up for a study sometime, because I take creatine and other supplements and want to know how they are different in a study compared to just taking them on a normal basis."
Creatine is said to have similar effects as anabolic steroids, just without the side effects, according to altmedicine.about.com. Creatine is very popular amongst athletes and bodybuilders and is usually a safe substance to consume for competitions that involve drug testings.
There are different ways to consume and use creatine, other than for dealing with muscles and weights.
The Health and Exercise Science department is allowing creatine consumption in powder form and will be conducting your "non-traditional" exercises.
"We want to get a different aspect when dealing with creatine, so that is the reason why we are doing a lot of cardio and neuromuscular exercises for this study," Metabolic Lab Researcher, Abbie Smith said. "A lot of people don't know what creatine can actually do and that is another reason why we are performing this study, to show and educate more on that supplement."
The studies will also be focusing on the contractions of muscles (particularly the lower body) and what roles creatine can play when the body gets fatigued, Smith said
Studies have shown, creatine can have an impact on one's (athletic) performance and can help muscles recover quicker.
In the Health and Exercise Science laboratory, the studies do not come too easy. People sign up for the study, expecting an easy ride and free supplements, but it's more than that, Smith said.
The Health and Exercise Department issues contracts for participants to sign, in order to receive the full amount of exercise needed for the study and just in case there is a controversy about the amount of money, Smith said.
The exercises in this study are pretty hard compared to the previous studies in the department, Health and Exercise Science researcher and graduate student, Krissy Kendall said
"I didn't think this study would be so intense at first, and I workout quite often too," Kendall said. "It's funny because people sometimes think this is easy money, but I think you have to earn it some way or another, especially while running until you're out of breath."
The study contains running on a treadmill at one's 90 percent max, building up to longer amounts of time as one gets more in depth with the study.
The second and third experiments contain an observation on one's oxygen capacity and a neuromuscalar movement (and stretching) with the calve muscles.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't know what to expect when I got in there," OU Junior Michael Cummins said. "It was kind of new to me on some parts, like the treadmill part I was fine with, but the stretching my calve part took me a while to get used to."
Creatine is a popular supplement to both, The Health and Exercise Science department and to athletes all over the world. It is one of the easiest supplements to buy, but people usually consume in the wrong way, Smith said.
It's not uncommon to find people who do not know what they are doing when it comes to supplement taking or nutrient timing, Smith said.
Nutrient timing is the amount of time supplements need to be taken before and after physical activity to help fuel and replenish the body, according to ideafit.com.
The study will teach participants about nutrient timing (with consumption of creatine) and the results it can play before, during, and after a physical performance.
Studies have been done in the past years for the Health and Exercise Science department and have never had too much of any problems, Kendall said.
The Health and Exercise Science department always do laboratory studies and are always looking for participants who can meet the requirements.
This particular study requires one be at least 18 years of age and able to run at an intense pace for periods of time.
If one wishes to participate in this study, there will be a reward of 25 dollars (in form of a check) at the end of the study.
For more information, visit the Health and Exercise Science department, located across the breezeway of the Houston Huffman Center (between Asp and Jenkins).
