In this podcast, they talk about Kirsty Wood's IRONMAN 70.3 race experience. They also discuss the benefits of supplementing with creatine and share an interview with an expert in the field. The podcast touches on Achilles Tendinopathies and provides tips on prevention and recovery. They also mention a discount code for Infinit Nutrition.
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Quick takeaways
Proper load management and strengthening exercises are crucial for preventing and managing Achilles tendinopathy.
Creatine supplementation offers various benefits for energy production, performance enhancement, and brain health.
Creatine supplementation has the potential to optimize muscle recovery and training frequency, particularly in males.
Deep dives
Load Management and Strengthening for Achilles Tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy, a common issue in runners and triathletes, can be managed through proper load management and strengthening exercises. Load management involves monitoring pain levels on a scale from 0 to 10 during and after physical activity. Zero to two out of 10 is safe to continue training, while three to five may require modifications to running intensity or terrain. Anything above five should prompt a break from running and alternative loading exercises. Strengthening exercises for the Achilles include deficit calf raises with controlled tempo and a focus on both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Starting with bodyweight and progressing to heavy loads is important to elicit positive changes in the tendon.
Benefits and Considerations of Creatine Supplementation
Creatine supplementation offers a range of benefits, including improved energy production, performance enhancement, and potential positive effects on brain health, bone development, and anti-inflammatory response. While some creatine is produced naturally in the body, individuals following plant-based diets may benefit most from supplementation. The average daily production of creatine through diet and natural production ranges from one to five grams. Supplementation with three grams daily is often sufficient, once muscle saturation has been reached. Load management, gradually increasing strength exercises, and avoiding excessive loading are crucial for preventing and managing Achilles tendinopathy.
Preventing and Managing Achilles Tendinopathy
Preventing and managing Achilles tendinopathy involves several strategies. Firstly, load management is crucial, ensuring that the tendon has time to adapt and recover after intense sessions or heavy training loads. If symptoms range from zero to two out of 10, training can continue as usual. Symptoms between three to five may require modifications, while anything above five warrants a break from running and alternative loading exercises. Strengthening exercises, such as deficit calf raises, with controlled tempo and a focus on both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, help build tendon resilience. Monitoring pain scale or maintaining a symptom diary can aid in assessing the tendon's response to training and adjusting loads accordingly.
Creatine and Protein Breakdown
Creatine supplementation has been shown to decrease protein breakdown in males, allowing for faster muscle recovery and potentially enabling multiple training sessions per day. In females, the effect is not as pronounced, possibly due to higher initial creatine levels and smaller muscle size. More research is needed to understand the exact reasons behind this gender difference, but it is suggested that estrogen levels or its absence as women approach menopause may play a role. Overall, creatine supplementation has the potential to optimize muscle recovery and training frequency.
Creatine and Brain Health
The brain, unlike muscles, synthesizes its own creatine for energy and homeostasis. However, the brain is resistant to creatine supplementation, and higher doses may be required to accumulate significant amounts in the brain. Preliminary evidence suggests that creatine supplementation can have positive effects on brain health, such as neuroprotection, improving memory and cognition, and aiding in recovery from concussion, sleep deprivation, and neurodegenerative diseases. More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications of creatine for brain health.
Kirsty Wood won the free race entry to the IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast. We hear from Kirsty about how it all went.
We discuss the benefits of supplementing with creatine plus we share Mikki’s interview with Professor Darren Candow – an expert in the field.
Kate Baldwin of Endurance Movement and Valere Endurance comes back on the show to share her expertise in the field of Achilles Tendinopathies. We learn about what we can do to prevent this type of injury plus the different ways we can manage the recovery. We also hear about the kind of rehab work we can focus on in the gym to aid recovery.
(0:10:57) – Kirsty Wood talks about her race at the IM703 Sunshine Coast
(0:18.26) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10
(0:22:23) – Prof Darren Candow on Creatine
(0:34:00) – Dr Kate Baldwin and Achilles Tendinopathies
LINKS:
Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in.