Could creatine supplementation combined with physical rehabilitation accelerate return to play in athletes with patellar tendinopathy?
Ángela Sánchez-Gómez, Marco Malaguti, Borja Sañudo et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of creatine supplementation on recovery outcomes in 20 athletes with patellar tendinopathy undergoing physical rehabilitation. Results indicated that while both groups experienced pain reduction, the creatine group showed a significant improvement in pain levels at the mid-point of the study (70.2 points vs. 60.6 points, p = 0.027) and enhanced countermovement jump performance over time.
Key findings
- Creatine supplementation led to a significant reduction in pain at the mid-point (70.2 points vs. 60.6 points, p = 0.027).
- Both groups showed significant improvements in tendon thickness and strength over time.
- The creatine group demonstrated enhanced countermovement jump performance at both mid-point and post-intervention assessments.
Why it matters
Understanding the role of creatine in rehabilitation can help clinicians optimize recovery strategies for athletes with patellar tendinopathy, potentially leading to quicker return to play and improved performance outcomes.