Creatine kinase in sports
The enzyme creatine kinase is always released by the body when muscle tissue is damaged. This is the case with oxygen deficiency, overloading or injuries. Consequently, the creatine kinase level can also increase through physical activity.
This process is purely physiological and has no disease value – even if the values even increase to two thousand times the normal values. This rarely happens with regular and constant mechanical stress, but rather with unusual and strong changes in the extent and intensity of exercise. This is especially the case for athletes who start training again after a longer break from training.
The body is then unable to cope with the new strain and thus releases creatine kinase. Especially during eccentric muscle contractions, strength and explosive strength training, the creatine kinase levels increase significantly. The same happens during unusually long exertion, such as marathons or triathlons.
Therefore, competitive athletes generally have an increased creatine kinase concentration in their blood. Normally, the values should have returned to normal after two weeks of physical rest at the latest. This long period of time is explained by the fact that creatine kinase leaves behind many waste products. These must all be broken down by the kidneys. If creatine kinase levels in the blood are regularly much too high, this can damage the kidneys in extreme cases.
Summary
Creatine kinase is an enzyme that occurs mainly in muscles, but also in organs. Depending on its functional site, there are four subforms, which differ in their chemical structure. It is not only elementary for the provision of energy in the cells, but is also an important marker in diagnostics. For example, the creatine kinase level can be a clear indication of a heart attack, Parkinson’s disease or hereditary muscle diseases.
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