Creatine Monohydrate for Muscle Recovery
Compound stored in skeletal muscle as phosphocreatine, buffering ATP regeneration during short, high-intensity effort; one of the most extensively studied performance-enhancing supplements for strength and lean mass.
Creatine Monohydrate for Muscle Recovery
6 of 7 results reported a benefit, from 2 published studies.
2 studies, including a review of trials · the chart counts everything measured
- 6 reported a benefit
- 1 no clear benefit
Colour keyReported a benefitNo clear benefitUnclearPossible harmAmber is for highlights, such as where the most research is. It never means a result was good.
- Muscle damage marker (CK)30.9lower, unit not reported1 review of trials2 of 2 results reported a benefit2021 study ↗
- Muscle damage marker (LDH)No clear difference5.99 lower, unit not reported1 review of trials1 of 2 results reported a benefit2021 study ↗
Also measured in these studies (3)
These were measured alongside, but they are not what this condition is about.
- Muscle strengthReported a benefitmeasurement not reportedCreatine increased strength compared to baseline during resistance training.1 review of trials2024 study ↗
- Exercise performanceReported a benefitmeasurement not reportedCreatine increased performance in high-intensity tasks compared to baseline during resistance training.1 review of trials2024 study ↗
- Total and lean body massReported a benefitmeasurement not reportedCreatine increased total and lean body mass compared to baseline during resistance training.1 review of trials2024 study ↗
These are the figures the studies reported, not a prediction for any one person. Where several studies measured the same thing in the same unit, we show a simple average and say so. Every result is listed below.
See every resultThe connection
Post-workout soreness, muscle repair, DOMS, and recovery between training sessions.
Also known as: Creatine
Creatine Monohydrate × Muscle Recovery: at a glance
Every published result for this pair, extracted and audited.
These charts count reported findings from published studies, grouped by reported benefit and study design. Study design is not a certainty grade.
Creatine Monohydrate / Muscle Recovery: reported findings; one study may contribute several findings.
What the evidence shows
What this means: Counts describe research quantity, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
| Category | Findings (count) |
|---|---|
| Benefit | 6 |
| No benefit | 1 |
Study designs behind these findings
What this means: Counts describe research quantity, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
| Category | Findings (count) |
|---|---|
| Meta-analysis | 4 |
| Systematic review | 3 |
- Studies
- 2
| Study | Outcome | Reported result | Uncertainty (as reported) | Study duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creatine supplementation effect on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 34472118) | creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 48, 72, and 96 hr | Not reported | Not reported | 48, 72, and 96 hr |
| Creatine supplementation effect on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 34472118) | creatine kinase (CK) concentration overall | -30.94 | 95% CI: -53.19, -8.69; p = .006 | Not reported |
| Creatine supplementation effect on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 34472118) | lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration at 48 hr | Not reported | Not reported | 48 hr |
| Creatine supplementation effect on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 34472118) | lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration overall | Not reported | WMD = -5.99; 95% CI: -14.49, 2.50; p = .167 | Not reported |
| Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Healthy Athletes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. (PMID 37688400) | performance | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Healthy Athletes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. (PMID 37688400) | strength | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Healthy Athletes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. (PMID 37688400) | total and lean body mass | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
Study results, as reported by the publications
Every measured outcome, one row per finding - numbers exactly as reported. Units are preserved where supplied; missing units are not inferred.
| Study and type | Reported sample and duration | Outcome measured | Reported result | What studies found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 37688400 2024 Systematic review | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: Not reported | performance | Not reported | Benefit |
| PMID 37688400 2024 Systematic review | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: Not reported | strength | Not reported | Benefit |
| PMID 37688400 2024 Systematic review | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: Not reported | total and lean body mass | Not reported | Benefit |
| PMID 34472118 2021 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: 48, 72, and 96 hr | creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 48, 72, and 96 hr | Not reported | Benefit |
| PMID 34472118 2021 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: Not reported | creatine kinase (CK) concentration overall | -30.94 (95% CI: -53.19, -8.69; p = .006) | Benefit |
| PMID 34472118 2021 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: 48 hr | lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration at 48 hr | Not reported | Benefit |
| PMID 34472118 2021 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: Not reported | lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration overall | Not reported (WMD = -5.99; 95% CI: -14.49, 2.50; p = .167) | No benefit |
Creatine Monohydrate × Muscle Recovery: the evidence base
Hand-selected PubMed studies, linked to the originals.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Creatine Supplementation in Combat Sport Athletes: A Narrative Systematic ReviewAshtary-Larky D, et al. · Journal of dietary supplements · 2025PMID 40755023 ↗02Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Healthy Athletes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysesWarrier AA, et al. · Sports health · 2024PMID 37688400 ↗03Biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysisFrye RE, et al. · Neurobiology of disease · 2024PMID 38703861 ↗04Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Post-Exercise Inflammation, Muscle Damage, Oxidative Response, and Sports Performance in Physically Healthy Adults-A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled TrialsFernández-Lázaro D, et al. · Nutrients · 2024PMID 38999792 ↗05The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysisXu C, et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2024PMID 39070254 ↗06The effects of hydrotherapy and cryotherapy on recovery from acute post-exercise induced muscle damage-a network meta-analysisChen R, et al. · BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024PMID 39294614 ↗Community experiences
Contributors volunteered; this does not establish treatment effectiveness or population incidence.
Reported changes
No publishable community breakdown is available. This does not establish that no reports exist.