Recovery With Vistula Tart Cherry Supplementation Following Muscle Damage.

PURPOSE: Tart cherries (TC) have become a popular nutritional strategy for recovery, particularly for attenuation of markers associated with muscle damage. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a Vistula TC supplement on recovery following a single bout of muscle damaging exercise. METHODS: Twenty-one recreationally active participants (the mean ± SD age, stature and mass were 27 ± 7 years old, 179.5 ± 8.6 cm and 80.86 ± 11.29 kg, respectively) performed 40 (5 sets of 8 repetitions) maximal lengthening contractions of the elbow flexors. Participants were randomised to receive either a freeze-dried TC powder or calorie-matched placebo (11 TC, 10 placebo) for 8 days in total, with the exercise bout occurring on day 5 of the supplementation period. Participants returned to the lab 24-, 48- and 72-h post, to have measures taken of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), muscle soreness (DOMS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), range of movement (ROM) and upper arm limb girth. A 2 x 5 (condition x time) ANOVA was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS for Windows, SPSS Inc.) and expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). MVC, PPT, ROM and girth are all expressed as percentage change from baseline to account for individual variation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the conditions for any variable (p > 0.3). There were significant changes over time for all variables (MVC, DOMS, PPT and ROM p < 0.001, girth p = 0.017). MVC in the TC group was 96% 72 h post, compared to 82% in the placebo (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The bout of maximal eccentric exercise successfully caused muscle damage in both groups. The TC group did not recover at an accelerated rate compared to the placebo. This study provides initial insights into the use of a powdered Vistula TC supplement and its effect following strenuous (damaging) exercise bouts.