Resistance training exercise + creatine in CMT patients

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Research Abstract from Muscle Nerve. 2004 Jul;30(1):69-76.

Resistance training exercise and creatine in patients with

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Chetlin RD, Gutmann L, Tarnopolsky MA, Ullrich IH, Yeater RA.

Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Science, West

Virginia University, P.O. Box 9139, town, West Virginia

26506-9139, USA.

Resistance exercise and creatine supplementation independently improve

strength and function in patients with certain neuromuscular diseases.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resistance

training with and without creatine supplementation on muscle, strength,

and function in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Twenty

patients with CMT consumed 5 g/day creatine or placebo while

participating in resistance training for 12 weeks. Energy metabolites,

muscle fiber type and size, strength, and timed activities of daily

living were measured before and after training. There were no

differences between creatine or placebo groups for any outcome. For the

groups combined, exercise training increased type I muscle fiber

diameter (48.2 +/- 14.2 microm vs. 55.4 +/- 14.8 microm), strength, and

activities of daily living (ADL) times. Thus, patients respond to

resistance training with muscle fiber adaptations, and improvements in

strength and function. Creatine was not beneficial.