Creatine Kinase - A More Modern Form of Creatine

While creatine monohydrate is one of the most common forms of creatine that is found in the body and used as a supplement for bodybuilders and any individual looking for a little extra boost for their workouts.  Creatine Kinase, sometimes abbreviated CK, and also known as Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK), is a type of creatine that is found in the body and is an enzyme that is naturally absorbed by muscles, but unlike creatine monohydrate creatine kinase is not the same thing, and should not be mistaken for the creatine that is found in supplement form.

Creatine kinase is found in the body naturally, and is all right as long as it is found in small amounts.  It can appear in the body in higher amounts after an intense workouts, since creatine kinase often times occurs when muscles are torn or damaged, as they will be after a major weight lifting work out as the muscles work to recover.

The problem with creatine kinase is that in higher amounts it can be a sign of damage to the muscular system or the brain.  Because of this, often times blood tests are taken searching for creatine kinase because CK can be an indication of potential heart attack, muscle diseases, or potential stroke.  The same is true with neuromuscular disorders.  Elevated levels of CK can be a dead give away to something being seriously wrong.  In normal circumstances, CK helps to heal the muscles after a workout, but when the CK levels remain elevated when they shouldn’t that’s potentially a dead giveaway.

CK tests are often used to evaluate different types of neuromuscular diseases, and there are five different ways in which they can be used:

1.    To confirm a specific muscle problem that is suspected before more obvious symptoms confirm the diagnosis.
2.    To see if muscle weakness is caused by a muscle or nerve problem as opposed to regular soreness.
3.    To tell the difference between potential disorders that have similar symptoms but different CK readings
4.    To try to detect possible “carriers” of neuromuscular disorders.
5.    To try to keep close tabs on a disease that is known to fluctuate or shift throughout different phases.

Creatine kinase (CK) is not the same as creatine monohydrate, and the two should not be confused.  Monohydrate is the base of the popular supplement that has helped dieters and bodybuilders maximize their workout effect.  CK is a natural enzyme, but it is one that often times is used to indicate possible bad news.  Knowing the difference between these two “creatines” can make a huge difference in understanding the importance of each in any given conversation.

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