Caffeine, Climbing
Conditions
Keywords
sport climbing, grip strength, pull up strength, caffeine, sport performance
Brief summary
To determine the effects of ingesting caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg body mass on pull-up performance and handgrip-related measures in trained climbers.
Detailed description
Introduction: Caffeine is widely recognized as a performance-enhancing substance across numerous athletic disciplines; however, its role in sport climbing has received comparatively limited scientific attention. Because climbing performance relies heavily on grip force, explosive upper-body strength, and localized muscular endurance, this investigation evaluated the short-term impact of a low caffeine dose on climbing-relevant performance outcomes. Objective: To determine the effects of ingesting caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg body mass on pull-up performance and handgrip-related measures in trained climbers. Methods: Thirteen trained young male climbers participated in a triple-blind, randomized, crossover study design, completing two experimental conditions (caffeine and placebo). Performance assessments included a pull-up one-repetition maximum (1RM), a pull-up power test conducted at multiple external loads, a pull-up endurance test, and several grip performance evaluations, namely maximal dead-hang duration, maximal dead-hang force, and rate of force development (RFD).
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTAcute and moderate dose of caffeine (3 mg/kg body mass)
Caffeine supplementation was provide to young male climbers.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo
Placebo supplementation was provide to young male climbers.
Sponsors
University of Alcala
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Participants, investigators and statistician
Intervention model description
A triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy individuals * Age between 18 and 40 years * At least three months of continuous climbing practice * Ability to hang for at least 5 seconds from an 18-mm edge * Ability to perform at least one strict body-weight pull-up
Exclusion criteria
* Any musculoskeletal or medical condition preventing completion of the experimental protocol * Participation in less than three training sessions per week or a total training volume \<150 min/week * Use of medications or dietary supplements known to affect caffeine metabolism
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-up 1RM | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | — |
| Pull-up strength and power test 1 | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Mean and peak velocity will be recorded at 60%, 80%, 90%, 95% and 100% 1RM. |
| Pull-up strength and power test 2 | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Mean and peak power will be recorded at 60%, 80%, 90%, 95% and 100%1RM. |
| Pull-up muscular endurance test | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Using body mass and perform one set of many repetitions as possible until task failure. The total number of repetitions, Vmean, Vpeak, Wmean and Wpeak were recorded. |
| Grip endurance in dead-hang. | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Maximum hanging time (MHT) test at an 18-mm edge depth with each hand |
| Maximum grip strength in dead-hang | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | using the Strength Test (ST), which measures the maximal external load a participant can sustain for 5 seconds while hanging from an 18-mm edge |
| Grip rate of force development (RFD). | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | measuring the maximal one-hand pull (voluntary contraction) at an 18 mm edge with a force sensor |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body composition | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Using bioelectrical impedance |
| Dietary habits | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | 24 h dietary recall |
| Physical activity habits | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Report the unabbreviated scale title. Scores are typically expressed as MET-minutes/week or by activity categories (low, moderate, high), depending on the scoring protocol used. There is no fixed universal minimum or maximum score for MET-minutes/week, as scores depend on reported activity levels. Higher scores indicate better outcomes (greater physical activity). |
| Rate of perceived exertion | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Using Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Category Ratio 10 (CR10) Scale: minimum 0, maximum 10 (or 11 if including "maximal"). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes (greater perceived exertion). |
| Mood states | Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks | Using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) on a 0-4 scale. |
Countries
Spain
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAlberto Pérez López, PhD
University of Alcala
Outcome results
None listed