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Creatine
and Throwing and Hitting Harder?
I received an e-mail
from a BioForce family member about creatine.
The subscriber,
Colin, asked; “Sean, do you recommend taking
creatine to help boost strength for faster pitches
or hitting the ball farther?”
A great question and
one I have heard many times before. The answer to
Colin’s question is yes and no.
Before I explain, my
answer let me discuss creatine supplementation in a
little more depth.
First and foremost we
need to understand what creatine is, and how it
affects the body.
During explosive,
rapid rate, or powerful movements the body requires
energy to fuel the muscles.
The muscles during
these types of activities use a chemical compound to
fuel these activities.
Once the chemical
compound has been used as “fuel” by the muscles a
waste product is left over (kinda like the carbon
monoxide coming out of your car).
The chemical waste
product must be reprocessed by the body in order for
it to be used again by the muscles of the body.
The supplementation
of creatine “speeds up” the reprocessing of these
chemicals to be used by the body for energy.
This is an
oversimplification of the process, but it gives you
a good idea of where creatine supplementation comes
into play.
Knowing what we now
know, creatine is essentially a product assisting in
recovery.
It helps your body
recover from muscle activity and re-generate energy
more quickly.
That is why the
answer to Colin’s question is yes and no.
On the “no” side of
the equation; taking a spoonful of creatine before
you step up onto the first tee will not help your
driving distance.
On the “yes” side of
the equation; using creatine with a proper BASEBALL
FITNESS program can assist you in developing more
power.
It does so by helping
the body recover in-between workouts. Allowing you
to train and practice at a greater intensity.
Personally, I am
neutral on the usage of creatine. Research has
proven the benefits of such supplemental though.
No side effects to
this date have been found with the PROPER USE of the
SUPPLEMENT.
Unfortunately, many
individuals take too much of the powder. This can
cause muscles cramping, stomach cramping, and
muscles strains.
A few notes if you do
choose to start taking this supplement:
Number 1 ; do not
“load” the supplement. Many manufacturers suggest
taking a higher dose of creatine when you first
start taking it. Research has proven this to be of
no benefit.
Number 2 ; creatine
is found naturally in red meat and other things we
eat. As a result, take a low dosage of the
supplement.
Number 3 ; hydrate
often when taking this supplement. Increase your
intake of fluids on a daily basis.
To summarize,
nutritional supplemental can be beneficial to the
baseball player. It must be done correctly and with
the correct supervision.
Make it Happen!
Sean & Bill
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