[Kristofer Lam]

Kristofer Lam on February 24, 2011 at 8:04 am #17415

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some feedback on a question i’ve been wondering about for the last week or so in reation to the topic. I recently fractured my 4th and 5th metacarpal and up until last week had been working out 5 days a week. I’m 18 years old and was wondering how this set back will set me back in terms of muscle mass loss and strength loss. I was continuing to do legs and abs three days a week but recently the doctor told me that i should not be sweating in my cast(it’s fibre glass)and also that i should do NO physical activity so that i dont risk my fracture healing wrong. This is my second question, should I really stop ALL physical activity? I feel i can still do legs and abs safely without displacing my fracture.

[sizerp]

sizerp on February 24, 2011 at 11:41 am #105768

Creatine should help you retain muscle and strength while inactive:

Effect of creatine supplementation during cast-induced immobilization on the preservation of muscle mass, strength, and endurance

Also some whey supplementation might be helpful:

Whey protein ingestion enhances postprandial anabolism during short-term bed rest in young men

While the cases described in these studies are not the same as yours, glutamine might be useful as well:

Glutamine preserves skeletal muscle force during an inflammatory insult
Addition of glutamine to total parenteral nutrition after elective abdominal surgery spares free glutamine in muscle, counteracts the fall in muscle protein synthesis, and improves nitrogen balance

I’d also look into leucine:

Dietary protein recommendations and the prevention of sarcopenia[/url]

[Kristofer Lam]

Kristofer Lam on February 24, 2011 at 3:50 pm #105772

Thanks a lot for the links! Very helpful information. I’m currently taking animal pak which, among many other amino acids, has a high dosage of glutamine and i would probably get a whey protein but i’m not reaaly into the creatine thing although the article does say it is probably what would be best.

[Kristofer Lam]

Kristofer Lam on February 24, 2011 at 3:53 pm #105773

*edit

[sizerp]

sizerp on February 24, 2011 at 7:03 pm #105776

…

but i’m not reaaly into the creatine thing although the article does say it is probably what would be best.

Well, I’m not really into high dosages of antioxidants, but I will use vitamin C to prevent scurvy 🙂

[Kristofer Lam]

Kristofer Lam on February 25, 2011 at 5:43 pm #105860

haha good point, well thanks for the advice, i’m gonna try stick to the whey protein and just keep up my nutrition.