Effects of creatine supplementation on female professional handball athletes

It is suggested that creatine supplementation during training may lead to greater adaptations to activity due to better quality and workload. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of creatine on body composition and strength of female handball athletes. The sample consisted of 13 women, between 18 and 40 years old. Athletes of a team from the city of Blumenau-SC. The tests were performed using a clinical adipometer and hand grip dynamometer. The supplementation phase was 8 weeks, divided into saturation phase (20g / day) for 5 days and maintenance (3g / day) for 55 days. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. It can be observed that there was no relevant difference in the average weight and BMI before and after supplementation, as well as in the percentage of body fat and lean mass. However, athletes between 18 and 21 years had better results in the increase of lean mass in relation to the average established in the group. Increased strength was observed in both hands with significant difference in mean before and after supplementation, being the right of 1.57 N and the left of 1.41 N. At the end of the study it can be concluded that creatine as a supplement it can promote improvements in body composition and strength of athletes, being a supplemental resource for short-term activities that require immediate energy, however, its use should be prescribed and evaluated taking into account the particular needs and limitations of each individual.