The Effects of Cannabidiol Oil on Noninvasive Measures of Muscle Damage in Men

No previous study has investigated the applications of isolated cannabidiol (CBD) as a recovery aid in untrained human subjects after a bout of exercise-induced muscle damage. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effect of CBD oil on perceived muscle soreness, inflammation, and strength performance after eccentric exercise (ECC) of the elbow flexors. Methods Thirteen untrained men (mean +/- SD age, 21.85 +/- 2.73 yr) performed 6 sets of 10 maximal ECC isokinetic muscle actions of the elbow flexors as part of a double-blind crossover design. Noninvasive (perceived soreness, arm circumference, hanging joint angle (JA), and peak torque (PT)) measures were taken before and after ECC, and 24, 48, and 72 h after ECC. All subjects completed both the supplement (CBD: 150 mg POST, 24 h, 48 h) and placebo (PLC: POST, 24 h, 48 h) condition separated by 2 wk. Four separate two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (condition [CBD vs PLC] x time [PRE vs POST vs 24 h vs 48 h vs 72 h]) were used to analyze perceived soreness, arm circumference, JA, and PT. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA were used to decompose significant interactions and main effects. Results There was no condition-time interaction or main effect of condition (P > 0.05) for perceived soreness, arm circumference, JA, or PT. There were main effects for time for perceived soreness (P = 0.000, eta(2)(p) = 0.71) and JA (P = 0.006, eta(2)(p) = 0.35). Conclusions The current dose of 150 mg CBD oil at POST, 24 h, and 48 h had no effect on noninvasive markers of muscle damage in the upper extremity. At the current dose and schedule, CBD oil may not be beneficial for untrained men as a recovery aid after exercise-induced muscle damage.

Automated summary

The study found that CBD oil had no effect on noninvasive markers of muscle damage, showing no condition-time interaction or main effect of condition. However, there were main effects for time on perceived soreness and hanging joint angle.