Jordan, J. B., Caputo, J. L., & Farley, R. S. (June 03, 2010). The effects of caffeine supplementation on multiple bouts of sprint running performance. Presentation 1913 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; June 2-5.

This study examined the effects of 6 mg/kgBM of caffeine on multiple bouts of sprint running performance in habitual-users (M = 3; F = 5) and caffeine-naïve (M = 6; F = 4) recreationally active college students. Ss completed three trials of a 12 x 30 m sprint test with 35 seconds of rest between each sprint. Ratings of perceived exertion were collected on every third sprint. Trial 1 involved measuring height and body mass as well as providing a practice trial of the sprint test. Ss were randomly assigned the treatment in Trial 2, and the treatment was reversed in Trial 3. Caffeine was ingested in a sports drink one hour before performing the sprint test. All testing was conducted within two weeks with all pre-testing (Trial 1) occurring in Week 1. Experimental trials occurred in Week 2 with 48 hours of rest between trials.

Caffeine produced a significantly faster best single sprint time when compared to the placebo trial. No significant difference was found between caffeine supplementation and placebo on the time to complete the total sprint test. No significant interaction of caffeine and gender was found in total time to complete the sprints as well as individual sprint times. No significant difference was found in the difference score of the fastest individual sprint times between caffeine-naïve and habitual caffeine users. Finally, a significantly higher average rating of perceived exertion was found with caffeine supplementation when compared to the placebo trial.

Implication. Caffeine significantly improved the fastest sprint performance in recreationally active college students. However, caffeine did not alter total time for completion of the sprint set.

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