In a new study, researchers found protein shakes may not be the most effective way to relieve aching muscles after gym exercise.
The research was conducted by sports scientists at the University of Lincoln, UK.
Protein shakes have long been touted as a gym bag essential, consumed by gym-goers in an effort to boost muscle recovery and minimize post-workout muscle soreness.
But in the study, the team found that neither whey-protein based shakes nor milk-based formulas enhanced the rate of muscle recovery following resistance training when compared to a carbohydrate only drink.
The study is the first to compare the effectiveness of the two different protein formulas.
The team examined 30 male participants, all of whom had at least a year’s resistance training experience.
The researchers divided participants into three groups with each group consuming either a whey hydrolysate based drink, a milk-based drink or a flavored dextrose (carbohydrate) drink following a prescribed intensive resistance training session.
Re-testing took place after a 24 and 48-hour period following the resistance training session.
The team asked participants to rate their levels of muscle soreness on a visual scale from ‘no muscle soreness’ (0) through to ‘muscle soreness as bad as it could be’ (200).
Participants also completed a series of strength and power assessments to test their muscle function.
The team found a big rise in the levels of muscle soreness across the three groups 24 hours and 48 hours after the initial resistance training session, with ratings for all groups rising to over 90, significantly higher than the group’s baseline ratings, which ranged from 19-26.
They also found reductions in muscle power and function.
The findings suggest there was no difference in recovery response between the different formulas and no additional benefit of protein consumption on muscle recovery.
The team says while proteins and carbohydrates are essential for the effective repair of muscle fibers following intensive strength training, varying the form of protein immediately following training does not strongly influence the recovery response or reduce muscle pain.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Thomas Gee.
The study is published in the Journal of Human Kinetics.
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