title: Improvement of Sprint Performance in Wheelchair Sportsmen With Caffeine Supplementation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caffeine can be beneficial during endurance and repeated-sprint exercise in able-bodied individuals performing leg or whole-body exercise. However, little evidence exists regarding its effects during upper-body exercise. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of caffeine on sprint (SPR) and 4-min maximal-push (PUSH) performance in wheelchair sportsmen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 12 male wheelchair rugby players (age 30.0 ± 7.7 y, body mass 69.6 ± 15.3 kg, training 11.1 ± 3.5 h/wk) completed 2 exercise trials, separated by 7-14 d, 70 min after ingestion of 4 mg/kg caffeine (CAF) or dextrose placebo (PLA). Each trial consisted of four 4-min PUSHes and 3 sets of 3 × 20-m SPRs, each separated by 4 min rest. Participants responded to the Felt Arousal (a measure of perceived arousal), Feeling (a measure of the affective dimension of pleasure/displeasure), and rating-of-perceived-exertion (RPE) scales. Salivary caffeine secretion rates were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average SPR times were faster during CAF than PLA during SPR 1 and SPR 2 (P = .037 and .016). There was no influence of supplementation on PUSHes 2-4 (P > .099); however, participants pushed significantly farther during PUSH 1 after CAF than after PLA (mean ± SD 677 ± 107 and 653 ± 118 m, P = .047). There was no influence of CAF on arousal or RPE scores (P > .132). Feeling scores improved over the course of the CAF trial only (P = .017) but did not significantly differ between trials (P > .167). Pre-warm-up (45 min postingestion) salivary CAF secretion rates were 1.05 ± 0.94 and 0.08 ± 0.05 μg/min for CAF and PLA, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute CAF supplementation can improve both 20-m-sprint performance and a 1-off bout of short-term endurance performance in wheelchair sportsmen.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Terri S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Graham-Paulson
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Goosey-Tolfrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine