Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on the Biomechanics of Healthy Young Subjects

NCT ID: NCT06039358

Last Updated: 2025-09-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-10-06
• Study Completion Date: 2023-12-23

Brief Summary

Caffeine is one of the few supplements that have enough scientific evidence to state that can notably improve performance, as different remarkable organizations in the sports nutrition context have classified it as an ergogenic aid with strong evidence regarding its efficacy and that is apparently safe. The beneficial effect of this substance on physical and cognitive performance has been identified in aerobic and anaerobic efforts, including aerobic and muscular endurance, power, or strength.

However, it seems that the benefits of caffeine are usually measured only by its effect on performance, while a comprehensive analysis of its impact on other aspects of the movement technique of the exercise is not considered. Therefore, although caffeine generates better performance, a null or negative effect may occur on technique execution. As such, some consequences might arise (e.g., an increase in injury risk or a decrease in energy efficiency).

The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to assess the influence of caffeine on certain biomechanical parameters of the technique of physical exercises in circumstances without fatigue and under neuromuscular fatigue. The study hypothesis is that caffeine generates modifications in the technical execution of certain movements in fatigued and unfatigued circumstances due to its physiological effects, which may be beneficial for performance and injury prevention.

The participants will have to attend 5 sessions (enrollment, familiarization, control, placebo, and caffeine), at least 7 days apart. In the last 3 sessions, different measurements will be done to their technique while jumping, squatting, and running, without fatigue and with it. Other data will be collected throughout the study to contextualize and analyze in more detail the obtained information.

Detailed Description

A detailed description of the study can be found in the protocol uploaded with this registry entry.

Conditions

Caffeine; Biomechanics; Fatigue; Injuries; Physical Activity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Control - caffeine - placebo.

The order of the assessed sessions will be first the control one, then the caffeine one, and then the placebo one.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Caffeine.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ingestion of opaque capsules with a total dose of 6mg/kg of caffeine, 60 minutes before the beginning of the assessed exercises. A crossover with the other intervention will be done in the next/previous session (depending on the arm).

Cellulose.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Ingestion of opaque capsules with cellulose, 60 minutes before the beginning of the assessed exercises. A crossover with the other intervention will be done in the next/previous session (depending on the arm).

Control - placebo - caffeine.

The order of the assessed sessions will be first the control one, then the placebo one, and then the caffeine one.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Caffeine.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ingestion of opaque capsules with a total dose of 6mg/kg of caffeine, 60 minutes before the beginning of the assessed exercises. A crossover with the other intervention will be done in the next/previous session (depending on the arm).

Cellulose.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Ingestion of opaque capsules with cellulose, 60 minutes before the beginning of the assessed exercises. A crossover with the other intervention will be done in the next/previous session (depending on the arm).

Interventions

Caffeine.

Ingestion of opaque capsules with a total dose of 6mg/kg of caffeine, 60 minutes before the beginning of the assessed exercises. A crossover with the other intervention will be done in the next/previous session (depending on the arm).

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Cellulose.

Ingestion of opaque capsules with cellulose, 60 minutes before the beginning of the assessed exercises. A crossover with the other intervention will be done in the next/previous session (depending on the arm).

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Placebo.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• An uninterrupted training time of at least 1 year in the subjects' regular exercise modality (either the person is still training or interrupted the training period during the last year, and with no more than 4 months of detraining).
• A good exercise technique of the assessed movement patterns (running, squatting, and jumping).

Exclusion Criteria

• Not being 18-30 years old.
• Having any relevant medical condition.
• Pregnancy.
• Smoking.
• Regular medication consumption / Medication consumption the days before the sessions during the study.
• Other supplementation regular consumption / Other supplementation consumption during the study (excluding sports foods, provided that their goal and nutrients have the objective of substituting the ingestion of regular food (e.g., isotonic drinks, carbohydrates gels, protein powder...), without adding other components that may act as ergogenic substances).
• Habitual caffeine consumption of >25mg/day-0,99mg/kg/day.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Generalitat de Catalunya

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

European Union

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Arnau Baena Riera, MSc.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sport, Exercise, and Human Movement (SEaHM), University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia.

Locations

University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia.

Vic, Barcelona., Spain

Countries

Spain

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Other Identifiers

CAFBIOM001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id