Background and purpose: the role of Creatine supplementation in improving the skill-related performance in young soccer players has not yet been properly clarified. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the short-term effect of Creatine on the skill-related and physiological functions of young elite soccer players.
Methodology: this research was semi-experimental and applied with pre-test and post-test design. A number of 20 young male players were selected as subjects from among the elite players of Hamza Shiraz Football Club and were divided into two groups of Creatine (n=10) and placebo (n=10) in a double-blind design. The Creatine group consumed five grams of Creatine and the placebo group consumed five grams of starch four times a day for seven days. Before and after supplementation, heart rate, blood pressure, speed, agility without ball, agility with ball, dribbling speed and endurance tests were performed.
Results: the results indicated that Creatine had no significant effect on the heart rate of the subjects, but the systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes were significant. The systolic blood pressure at rest in the creatine group was before taking the supplement (122.70 ± 6.11) and after taking it (118.50 ± 2.50). Diastolic blood pressure at rest in the creatine group (79.90 ± 3.51) and after taking the supplement (77.10 ± 2.33), and immediately after traning in this group from 84.90 ± 5.98 to 15 86.90 ± 7.0 was reported.
In the Creatine group, the average speed performance test time from 4.73 ± 0.27 seconds to 4.08 ± 0.08 seconds, agility test without ball from 10.62 ± 0.44 seconds to 10.07 ± 0.44 seconds, ball agility test from 12.57±0.40 seconds to 12.07±0.23 seconds, endurance test from 54.53±3.79 to 55.91±3.72, dribbling test from 0.26 19.26 ± seconds improved to 18.72 ± 0.40 seconds (P < 0.05). These changes were not significant in the placebo group. In addition, there was a significant difference between the performance time of the mentioned tests in the Creatine and placebo groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: according to the results of this study, Creatine can improve the skill-related and physiological functions of elite young soccer players.