GREGORY CHANDLER, ATTORNEY AT LAW, ON CREATINE AND ANAEROBIC EXERCISE

Individuals who train with weights know that creatine provides the muscular energy that allows one to perform extra repetitions of a weightlifting exercise. Creatine helps muscles store the type of energy that are needed for strength, speed, and power in short bursts. Movements of this nature are called anaerobic exercise. The opposite of anaerobic exercise is aerobic exercise which calls for less strength, speed, and power and is performed over a longer period of time. Think of a 100 meter sprinter as doing anaerobic exercise. Think of a marathon runner as doing aerobic exercise. In one study, 50 moderately trained men and women measured their maximum anaerobic running capacity on a series of treadmill tests over three days. Participants then took 5 grams of creatine four times per day or a placebo. After five days, participants repeated the three-day treadmill test. While there was no effect in women, men who took creatine increased their anaerobic running capacity by 23 percent without significant weight gain. GREGORY CHANDLER, Attorney at Law