EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE SUPPLEMENTATION UPON UPPER BODY MUSCULAR STENGTH AND ENDURANCE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of caffeine on upper body muscular endurance performance. Well-trained university sports students (n=10, 20.3 ± 1.0 years, 84.0 ± 13.8 kg and 177.5 ± 4.4 cm) participated in the study, were they completed in two testing sessions; a placebo beverage trial and a caffeine beverage trial. A 3.5mg∙kg-1 body mass (BM) dose of caffeine was administered 30-min prior to exercise were two exercises were used to assess upper body muscular endurance. Three sets of seated shoulder press and bench press were completed in each testing session, each set was completed to fatigue with repetitions completed in each set recorded, with 5-min of rest in between each set. Caffeine significantly increased bench press repetitions over 3 sets (caffeine = 61 ± 22 vs. placebo = 56 ± 23, P<0.05), furthermore, caffeine also significantly increased shoulder press repetitions over 3 sets (caffeine = 72 ± 26 vs. placebo = 59 ± 22, P<0.05). However, for both exercises no significant single set improvement for repetitions completed was reported after caffeine ingestion. Work done (j) and relative work done (j∙kg-1) also significantly increased after caffeine ingestion for both exercises over 3 sets. A 3.5mg∙kg-1 dose of caffeine significantly increased upper body muscular endurance during bench press and seated shoulder press across 3 sets, more total repetitions were completed over the 3 sets; however, no single set significantly increased in repetitions after caffeine ingestion.