Effect Of Caffeine On Sports Performance

Words: 576
Pages: 3

Research Problem: Most children regularly consume caffeine. The author investigated the effects of low, medium, and high caffeine intake through soft drinks on exercise performance in boys.
Hypothesis:
Caffeine can be a source of fuel, but certain quantities, if any, can improve sports performance.
Experimental Design: Twenty-six healthy boys, aged from 8 to 10 years old participated in this study arranged by Harding University. Each subject went through a body composition test to determine current body and health make up. Subjects went through 3 experimental trials to test exercise abilities with low (1 mg), moderate (3 mg), and high (5 mg) amounts of caffeine intake with one drink acting as a placebo. Both the experimenter and the subjects did not know which amount of caffeine the subjects were given, as an assistant made the caffeine drinks. Each subject was told to pedal 70-90 RPM at 20 watts on a stationary bike to find their peak oxygen intake, increasing to 15 W each minute until subjects could no longer pedal. This peak was found when the subjects could not keep pedaling at a rate of 70 rev/min, if their respiratory exchange ratio was greater than or equal to 1 or if their peak heart rate was greater than or equal to 95% of their maximum according to their age. Each subject drank a specified amount of caffeine one hour before exercising for maximum effect. Subjects drank specific amount of caffeine given to them and then exercised, results recorded.
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equation. The boys heart rates were identified with a Polar HR device, and blood pressure was measured using a semiautomatic BP instrument. The pedal rate on the bike was measured on a 894E Peak Cycle Ergometer, set with a