Hendricks, E. M., Kieffer, H. S., & Haak, J. L. (2012). The effects of caffeine on long-term anaerobic exercise. Presentation 2794 at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, San Francisco, California; May 29-June 2, 2012.

This study examined the effects of caffeine on a long-term anaerobic exercise protocol using the 90-second Wingate Test (WAnT90). Ss (anaerobically trained; M = 5; F = 8) ingested caffeine (5 mg/kg) or a placebo (equivalent mg of rice flour). One hour after ingesting the treatment, Ss underwent a two-minute prescribed warm-up on a Monarch bicycle ergometer. The S then performed a WAnT90 protocol using 0.05 kg per body weight as a constant resistance. Treatments were compared for peak power, total power, total power at 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 90 seconds, and power decline for total work at 30, 60, and 90 seconds.

Treatments were similar for peak power. Caffeine showed improved performance for total power, total power at 30 seconds and total power at 60 seconds. Total power decline was improved with caffeine however; the rate of decline did not change across the 30-second intervals.

Implication. As with other studies, peak power did not change following the ingestion of caffeine; however, caffeine did have a significant effect on extended anaerobic performance.

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