Muscle Damage
Conditions
Brief summary
Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement that has a wide range of benefits related to exercise when supplemented for about 8-12 weeks. This study aims to investigate whether short-term Ashwagandha supplementation can enhance muscle recovery following exercise by measuring muscle strength recovery, swelling, and soreness in the biceps.
Detailed description
The purpose of the study is to determine the effects of Ashwagandha supplementation on recovery from muscle-damaging exercise. Ten to twenty participants will be randomized to receive Ashwagandha supplementation (600 mg/d) or placebo for 10 days. On day 7, participants will perform a muscle damaging exercise session (six sets of concentric and emphasized eccentric repetitions with the biceps). Before and after exercise and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise, isometric muscle strength, muscle swelling (ultrasound), and muscle soreness will be assessed. The investigators hypothesize the Ashwagandha will alleviate symptoms of muscle damage (swelling and soreness) and enhance strength recovery after a bout of muscle-damaging exercise.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTAshwagandha
600 mg/d Ashwagandha
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo
600 mg/d placebo
Sponsors
University of Saskatchewan
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
male or female, aged 18-35y \-
Exclusion criteria
Conditions that may be affected by exercise (determined by "yes" answers to the "Get Active Questionnaire") Pregnant Breastfeeding Allergies to: * Dicalcium Phosphate * Cellulose * Vegetable magnesium stearate * Silica
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in isometric biceps strength measured with a dynamometer (Nm) | 72 hours |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index with scores ranging from 0 (no sleep problems) to 3 (lowest sleep quality) | 10 days |
| Change in muscle thickness measured with ultrasound (cm) | 72 hours |
| Change in muscle soreness measured with a visual analog scale with scores ranging from 0 (no soreness) to 10 (maximal soreness) | 72 hours |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed