Abstract
Background: The positive effects of caffeine supplementation on strength-power and endurance performance in healthy athletes have been demonstrated in many studies. A possible mechanism for its ergogenic effect relates to its influence on the central nervous system. Post-traumatic complications in cervical spinal cord injury affect almost all body systems including the nervous system. For this reason, we expect that caffeine will have a different effect of performance in the group of athletes with spinal cord injuries. Objective: To examine the effects of caffeine supplementation on maximal aerobic power in elite wheelchair rugby players. Methods: Seven elite male wheelchair rugby players with complete cervical-level SCI (C4-Th1) were recruited (mean age: 28 ± 5.42 years; mean body mass index: 26 ± 2.84 kg/m2). The effect of caffeine was assessed by an incremental arm ergometer test until volitional exhaustion. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max/kg), maximum power (W max/kg), peak heart rate (HR peak), and intensity of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. Participants performed the test twice with a two-week washout period. One hour before each exercise test subjects ingested a capsule of placebo or caffeine (3 mg per kg of body weight). The tests were applied in a double-blind, randomized, repeated-measures, and cross-over design. Wheelchair rugby players were chosen because of the expected high homogeneity of participants - in terms of the type and degree of disability, gender, and age of the players. Results: The monitored parameters were not significantly influenced by caffeine intervention as compared to placebo: VO2max/kg (p = .40), W max/kg (p = .34), HR peak (p = .50) and RPE (p = .50). Conclusions: The current findings suggest that a caffeine dose of 3 mg/kg body mass does not improve oxygen uptake and maximal power in elite wheelchair rugby players.
Highlights
Caffeine is a purine alkaloid that is found in various plants such as coffee or cocoa beans, tea leaves, kola nut or guarana
The aim of our study was to investigate whether caffeine supplementation at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram has effect on maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max/kg), maximum power (W max/kg), peak heart rate (HR peak), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in wheelchair rugby players
We have to reckon with the fact that there is large variability in the amount of upper limb musculature remaining under voluntary control in tetraplegia
Summary
Caffeine is a purine alkaloid that is found in various plants such as coffee or cocoa beans, tea leaves, kola nut or guarana. There is clear evidence that caffeine is an ergogenic aid for a variety of types of sports (Burke, 2009), studies involving elite athletes with spinalcord injury are lacking. This disability generally affects the lower limbs of the body but depending on the severity of the disorder and the level of the lesion can affect the upper limbs (Goosey-Tolfrey, Castle, Webborn, & Abel, 2006). Post-traumatic complications in cervical spinal cord injury affect almost all body systems including the nervous system For this reason, we expect that caffeine will have a different effect of performance in the group of athletes with spinal cord injuries. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that a caffeine dose of 3 mg/kg body mass does not improve oxygen uptake and maximal power in elite wheelchair rugby players
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