Creatine Supplementation Combined with Carbohydrate Restriction Before Competition in an Elite Female Long Jumper: A Case Study

Abstract

Jumping events in athletics (long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault), 60 m (indoor) and 100 m sprints, as well as vault in artistic gymnastics, last up to 10 s, require strength and speed in combination with low relative body weight. Excess body mass may negatively affect performance, and the main energy source for these disciplines is creatine phosphate. Consequently, creatine supplementation has an expected positive effect, but creatine is also associated with a particular increase in body mass, on average by 0.8 – 1 kg, according to various authors. This weight gain is at the expense of some muscle fluid retention. Another factor for increasing muscle fluid is glycogen, but glycogen reserves do not play a significant positive role in the sports disciplines listed. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory case study was to describe the effects of short-term creatine supplementation combined with carbohydrate restriction in an elite female long jumper before competition. One week before a main competition, the athlete reduced carbohydrate intake to a minimum and supplemented with 4 x 5 g/day creatine monohydrate. A 30-s continuous jump test on a force plate system was performed before and after the study intervention, and the athlete’s body mass was monitored throughout the week. In this case study, the results showed no changes in body mass and a significant increase in maximal rebound (48.9 cm vs 41.36 cm) and jumping endurance. Moreover, the athlete’s performance at the competition was the best result in her career – 6.5 m against a maximum of 6.4 m in previous events. This supplementation regimen requires further investigation with a sufficient number of participants to confirm its effectiveness.