Caffeine Ingestion Increases The Specific Upper-body Performance Of Combat Sports Athletes
Lopes-Silva, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: July 2020 - Volume 52 - Issue 7S - p 4
PURPOSE: To investigate the acute effect of caffeine ingestion on upper-body intermittent endurance and maximal isometric strength performance of combat sports athletes.
METHODS: Ten experienced judo and jiu-jitsu athletes completed two experimental sessions separated by at least 48 hours. Athletes consumed capsules containing either caffeine (5 mg·kg-1) or placebo 60 min before performing four bouts of an intermittent judogi’s dynamic strength endurance test, interspersed by 3-min recovery, in a double-blind and placebo-controlled crossover design. The performance was determined by the total number of repetitions completed during each of 4 exercise bouts. Furthermore, the sum of all repetition throughout the test was also calculated in order to analyze the overall performance. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and maximal isometric handgrip strength (MIHS) were evaluated prior to test and immediately after each exercise bout, while the blood lactate concentration [La] was measured just before and three minutes after the test.
RESULTS: When compared to placebo condition (41 ± 8 reps and 45.6 ± 2.7 kg), caffeine ingestion increased the total number of repetitions (45 ± 10 reps, + 7%, P < 0.05) and the MIHS (47.5 ± 2.8 kg, + 5%, P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in RPE (CAF: 11.7 ± 1.1 a.u., PLA: 11.8 ± 0.9 a.u.), HR (CAF: 137 ± 3 bpm, PLA: 133 ± 3 bpm) and [La] (CAF: 6.6 ± 0.4 mmol·L-1, PLA: 5.7 ± 0.4 mmol·L-1) conditions (P > 0.05 for all comparisons).
CONCLUSION: Caffeine ingestion (5 mg·kg-1) improved the upper-body intermittent endurance and maximal isometric strength of combat sports athletes without altering psychophysiological responses.