Supplements

Muscle Recovery Supplements: Injury Medical Chiropractic Clinic

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Workout recovery is as important as working out. Pushing muscle past its normal levels creates tiny tears in the muscle tissue. It is the repairing process that generates muscle growth. Muscles that aren’t allowed to recover will not grow or gain muscle mass, and muscle strength could be reduced, making working out a struggle and hindering health goal progress. The body needs time to repair the muscles to reduce the risk of injury. Allowing enough time for recovery reduces overuse-related muscle breakdown and injuries. Muscle recovery supplements can expedite the healing process.

Muscle Recovery Supplements

Reasons for taking supplements include their ability to heal damaged muscles faster, aid in injury recovery, reduce muscle soreness, reduce muscle fatigue, and provide the muscle cells with energy during recovery.

  • Certain supplements work by supporting or enhancing muscle protein synthesis.
  • Protein synthesis is the muscle cells’ process to make more protein.
  • Protein is the building block for muscle.
  • Increasing protein synthesis gives the body more blocks to use.
  • Other supplements help to reduce muscle soreness.
  • Sore muscles are common.
  • Soreness that occurs soon after working out is usually from lactic acid buildup.
  • There are supplements to help the body get rid of lactic acid faster.
  • There is delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, which lasts longer.
  • Some supplements work on both types of sore muscles.

Supplement Types

The type of recovery supplements depends on the individual and their goals. Here are a few to consider.

Protein Supplement

  • Protein is the most useful supplement for muscle recovery.
  • It helps the muscle repair faster and more effectively after an intense workout.
  • It is important if there is a lack of protein in an individual’s diet.
  • Whey protein is the most popular because it includes essential amino acids.
  • Other options include soy, egg, rice, hemp, and pea.

Branched-Chain Amino Acid – BCAA

  • The body makes certain amino acids; there are a few it cannot make.
  • A BCAA supplement provides these essential amino acids that aid in recovery.
  • This supplement promotes muscle growth, helps ease sore muscles,Β and reduces muscle fatigue.

Fatty Acid

  • Fatty acids supply energy but also reduce inflammation.
  • A medium-chain triglyceride – MCT fatty acid helps reduce lactic acid buildup.
  • Omega-3 fatty acid reduces muscle fatigue and muscle soreness and provides injury protection.
  • Fatty acid supplements should be stored in a dark, cool place to maintain quality.

Creatine

  • Creatine turns into creatine phosphate, which the body uses for energy.
  • Some studies have found that taking a creatine supplement may aid muscle recovery and greater muscle strength during recovery.

Citrulline Malate

  • Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid found in watermelon that converts into nitric oxide.
  • Nitric oxide helps open blood vessels and improve blood circulation.
  • This allows oxygen and nutrients to reach the muscle faster, speeding the recovery process.
  • Citrulline also improves the bioavailability of L-arginine, another amino acid that aids protein synthesis.

Magnesium

  • Magnesium assists with muscle recovery by helping the muscles relax.
  • When the body doesn’t have enough magnesium, there is a greater chance of muscle cramps.
  • Magnesium helps support healthy muscle contraction.

Tart Cherry Juice Extract

  • This extract works by reducing inflammation in the muscle.
  • Inflammation is normal, but too much can increase muscle soreness and the risk of injury.
  • One study found that cherry juice helps minimize post-exercise muscle pain.

Supplement Plan

After selecting a supplement plan that is the most beneficial for the individual, the next step is to devise a schedule for taking them.

  • When using a muscle recovery supplement can either be a pre-workout supplement or a post-workout supplement.
  • The recommended time to take a specific supplement is based on the type.
  • Individuals should talk with their doctor and a nutritionist before starting any new supplement regimen.
  • This helps ensure the supplements are safe and minimize negative side effects given health and medical conditions.

Nutrition In Recovery


References

Cooke, M.B., Rybalka, E., Williams, A.D. et al. Creatine supplementation enhances muscle force recovery after eccentrically-induced muscle damage in healthy individuals. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 6, 13 (2009). doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-6-13

DiNicolantonio, James J et al. β€œSubclinical magnesium deficiency: a principal driver of cardiovascular disease and a public health crisis.” Open heart vol. 5,1 e000668. 13 Jan. 2018, doi:10.1136/openhrt-2017-000668

Gough, Lewis A et al. β€œA critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance.” European journal of applied physiology vol. 121,12 (2021): 3283-3295. doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6

Kuehl, Kerry S et al. β€œEfficacy of tart cherry juice in reducing muscle pain during running: a randomized controlled trial.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 7 17. 7 May. 2010, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-17

Vitale, Kenneth C et al. β€œTart Cherry Juice in Athletes: A Literature Review and Commentary.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 16,4 (2017): 230-239. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000385

Weinert, Dan J. β€œNutrition and muscle protein synthesis: a descriptive review.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association vol. 53,3 (2009): 186-93.

Wolfe, Robert R. β€œBranched-chain amino acids and muscle protein synthesis in humans: myth or reality?.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 14 30. 22 Aug. 2017, doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0184-9

Zhang, Shihai, et al. β€œNovel metabolic and physiological functions of branched-chain amino acids: a review.” Journal of animal science and biotechnology vol. 8 10. 23 Jan. 2017, doi:10.1186/s40104-016-0139-z

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Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Muscle Recovery Supplements: Injury Medical Chiropractic Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
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