New Buzz About Caffeine

Being a fan of particularly high intensity training in my own program, I am more than aware that muscle pain and discomfort can be major limiting factors to high intensity exercise efforts. An interesting little study published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism suggests that caffeine may provide a solution.

Twenty-five college-aged men with a variety of regular caffeine usage levels ingested caffeine or a placebo followed by 30 minutes of cycling one hour later. The experimental beverage contained the equivalent of 3 to 4 cups of coffee or Red Bulls. The researchers assessed the participants perceived level of quadriceps muscle pain along with exercise oxygen consumption, heart rate, and cycling work rate.Now, I'm not suggesting you go out and drink four Red Bulls for any reason, but the results are interesting.

Following testing, participants in the caffeine group reported a moderately significant reduction in quadriceps muscle pain. The effects were consistent for both habitually high and low-caffeine consumers. So, apparently caffeine remains effective as an analgesic even in persons with a tolerance for caffeine.

We know from past research that caffeine has performance enhancing effects, but the effect of caffeine on the perception of pain have never been studied before. These results indicate that pre-exercise ingestion of caffeine might reduce the soreness associated with a particularly intense training session or a change in the routine. Now, remember, I'm not telling you to go out and drink excess amounts of caffeine at any time for any reason. Anyone consuming caffeine is advised to use caution as the possible negative side effects of caffeine in any size dosage have been well documented (trying to put up my best pharmaceutical disclaimer here. How am I doing?).

It's kind of neat to know though!