@Article{Mendes2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
year="2026",
title="Chronic co-use of cannabis and tobacco on short-term recovery from eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage: A pilot study",
abstract=" Cannabis	use	is	increasingly	prevalent,	particularly	among	young	adults.	While	the	endocannabinoid	 system	(ECS)	plays	a	role	in	modulating	inflammation	and	pain	perception,	the	influence	of	chronic	cannabis	use	 on	recovery	from	exercise	remains	unclear.	To	compare	recovery	of	muscle	function,	soreness,	and	circulating	 biomarkers	of	muscle	damage	and	inflammation	after	an	exercise-induced	muscle	damage	(EIMD)	protocol	in	 chronic	cannabis	users	(CU)	compared	to	non-users	(NU),	twenty-six	physically	active	participants	(12	CU,	14	NU)	 performed	a	drop	jump	protocol	to	cause	EIMD.	Isometric	and	concentric	isokinetic	peak	torque	of	the	quadriceps,	 serum	creatine	kinase	(CK),	myoglobin	(Myo),	interleukin-6	(IL-6),	and	perceived	muscle	soreness	were	assessed	 at	baseline,	immediately	post-exercise,	and	at	24-,	48-,	and	72-hour	post-exercise.	A	time	and	group	interaction	 was	observed	for	isometric	peak	torque	(p	=	0.048),	with	CU	showing	greater	isometric	strength	than	NU	 immediately	after	exercise	(mean	difference	=	10.53%,	95%	CI:	0.12–20.94)	and	at	72	hours	(15.11%,	95%	CI:	 0.90–29.31),	with	no	differences	at	other	time	points.	Concentric	peak	torque,	CK	and	Myo	displayed	similar	 kinetics	in	both	groups,	with	no	significant	main	or	interaction	group	effects.	IL-6	showed	no	clear	between-group	 differences	despite	a	significant	time	and	group	interaction,	and	the	overall	pattern	over	time	was	comparable	in	 CU	and	NU.	Muscle	soreness	increased	after	exercise	and	declined	thereafter,	with	no	significant	group	or	time	 and	group	interaction	effects.	Chronic	cannabis	use	does	not	impair	short-term	recovery	of	muscle	function	or	 inflammatory	response	following	EIMD. ",
author="Mendes, Antoine
and Cuvelier, Gregory
and Duriez, Léo
and Chartreux, Pauline
and Maboudou, Patrice
and Gish, Alexandr
and Gaulier, Jean-Michel
and Heyman, Elsa
and Berthoin, Serge
and Gamelin, François-Xavier",
pages="283--292",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2026.163921",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.163921"
}