Acute caffeine ingestion enhances performance and dampens muscle pain following resistance exercise to failure

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    35 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This double-blind, within-subjects experiment examined the effects of acute caffeine ingestion on perceptions of muscle pain following a bout of high-intensity, upper-body resistance exercise to failure. Moderately trained males (N.=18) ingested a dose of caffeine (5 mg • kg -1) or placebo in a randomised and counterbalanced order and 1 hour later completed bench press exercise to failure at an intensity of 60% 1 repetition maximum. Repetitions completed was taken as a measure of performance, peak heart rate was determined via heart rate telemetry during the exercise bout, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and upper body muscle pain was recorded immediately upon failure of the exercise task and peak blood lactate concentration was determined post-exercise. Caffeine resulted in improved repetitions to failure (t [17]=3.119, P=0.006), greater peak blood lactate (t [17] =5.080, P=0.0001) and lower RPE (t 17=-3.431, P=0.003) compared to placebo. Muscle pain perception was also significantly lower in the caffeine condition compared to placebo (t [17]=-2.567, P=0.04). These results support prior studies using aerobic based exercise modes in suggesting that caffeine ingestion can dampen exercise-induced muscle pain. Specifically, caffeine ingestion enhances muscular strength performance and reduces upper body muscle pain perception immediately following a bout of high-intensity resistance exercise to failure.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)280-285
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
    Volume52
    Issue number3
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

    Keywords

    • Caffeine
    • Exercise
    • Pain
    • Resistance exercise

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
    • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Acute caffeine ingestion enhances performance and dampens muscle pain following resistance exercise to failure'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this