Effects of Resistance Exercise, Black Maca and Combined Treatment on Blood Muscle Fatigue Factors and Muscle Function in Racket Athletes

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted with racket athletes at a university to determine the effect of combination of resistance exercise and black maca for four weeks on strength and endurance of trunk muscles and fatigue-related biomarkers. METHODS: There were 16 university racket athletes classified into two groups: CO (control) (n=8) and RE (resistance exercise) (n=8). Body composition and muscle function were tested before the experiment (baseline), after four weeks (racket), and after ten weeks (racket+black maca). Before measuring body composition, we collected a blood sample to measure fatigue-related biomarkers such as myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), lactic acid, and ammonia. Black maca was purchased from Essoco. RESULTS: In both the CO and RE groups, racket+black maca lowered blood ammonia levels compared to that at the baseline (p