Caffeine increases both total work performed above critical power and peripheral fatigue during a 4-km cycling time trial

The link between total work performed above critical power (CP) and peripheral muscle fatigue during self-paced exercise is unknown. We investigated the influence of caffeine on the total work done above CP during a 4-km cycling time trial (TT) and the subsequent consequence on the development of central and peripheral fatigue. Nine cyclists performed three constant-load exercise trials to determine CP and two 4-km TTs ~75 min after oral caffeine (5 mg/kg) or cellulose (placebo) ingestion. Neuromuscular functions were assessed before and 50 min after supplementation and 1 min after TT. Oral supplementation alone had no effect on neuromuscular function ( P > 0.05). Compared with placebo, caffeine increased mean power output (~4%, P = 0.01) and muscle recruitment (as inferred by EMG, ~17%, P = 0.01) and reduced the time to complete the TT (~2%, P = 0.01). Work performed above CP during the caffeine trial (16.7 ± 2.1 kJ) was significantly higher than during the placebo (14.7 ± 2.1 kJ, P = 0.01). End-exercise decline in quadriceps twitch force (pre- to postexercise decrease in twitch force at 1 and 10 Hz) was more pronounced after caffeine compared with placebo (121 ± 13 and 137 ± 14 N vs. 146 ± 13 and 156 ± 11 N; P < 0.05). There was no effect of caffeine on central fatigue. In conclusion, caffeine increases muscle recruitment, which enables greater work performed above CP and higher end-exercise peripheral locomotor muscle fatigue. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The link between total work done above critical power and peripheral fatigue during a self-paced, high-intensity exercise is unclear. This study revealed that caffeine ingestion increases muscle recruitment, which enables greater work done above critical power and a greater degree of end-exercise decline in quadriceps twitch force during a 4-km cycling time trial. These findings suggest that caffeine increases performance at the expense of greater locomotor muscle fatigue.

Download Full-text

Separate and combined influences of heat and hypobaric hypoxia on self-paced aerobic exercise performance

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00023.2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 127 (2) ◽

pp. 513-519 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Karleigh E. Bradbury ◽

Kirsten E. Coffman ◽

Katherine M. Mitchell ◽

Adam J. Luippold ◽

Charles S. Fulco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exercise Performance ◽

Hypobaric Hypoxia ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Time Trial ◽

Work Rate ◽

Total Work ◽

Physiological Strain ◽

Cycling Time Trial ◽

C 30 ◽

Cycling Time

Heat and hypobaric hypoxia independently compromise exercise performance; however, their combined impact on exercise performance has yet to be quantified. This study examined the effects of heat, hypobaric hypoxia, and the combination of these environments on self-paced cycling time trial (TT) performance. Twelve subjects [2 female, 10 male; sea level (SL) peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2peak), 41.5 ± 4.4 mL·kg−1·min−1, mean ± SD] completed 30 min of steady-state cycling exercise (50% SL V̇o2peak), followed by a 15-min self-paced TT in four environmental conditions: SL thermoneutral [SLTN; 250 m, 20°C, 30–50% relative humidity (rh)], SL hot (SLH; 250 m, 35°C, 30% rh), hypobaric hypoxia thermoneutral (HTN; 3,000 m, 20°C, 30–50% rh), and hypobaric hypoxia hot (HH; 3,000 m, 35°C, 30% rh). Performance was assessed by the total work (kJ) completed. TT performance was lower ( P < 0.05) in SLH, HTN, and HH relative to SLTN (−15.4 ± 9.7, −24.1 ± 16.2, and −33.1 ± 13.4 kJ, respectively). Additionally, the total work completed in HTN and HH was lower ( P < 0.05) than that in SLH. In SLH, HTN, and HH, work rate was reduced versus SLTN ( P < 0.05) within the first 3 min of exercise and was consistent for the remainder of the bout. No differences ( P > 0.05) existed for heart rate or Ratings of Perceived Exertion at the end of exercise among conditions. The decrease in self-paced TT performance in the heat and/or hypobaric hypoxia conditions compared with SLTN conditions resulted from a nearly immediate reduction in work rate that may have been regulated by environmentally induced changes in physiological strain and perception of effort in response to TT exercise. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first known study to examine the combined effects of heat and hypobaric hypoxia on short-duration self-paced cycling time trial performance. Regardless of environmental condition, subjects utilized an even work rate for the entire duration of the time trial. The presence of both environmental stressors led to a greater performance impairment than heat or hypobaric hypoxia alone, and the performance decrement stemmed from an early reduction of work rate.

Download Full-text

Caffeine Ingestion Does Not Alter Performance during a 100-km Cycling Time-Trial Performance

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ◽

10.1123/ijsnem.12.4.438 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 438-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Angus M. Hunter ◽

Allan St ◽

Clair Gibson ◽

Malcolm Collins ◽

Mike Lambert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Average Power ◽

Time Trial ◽

Peripheral Fatigue ◽

Mean Power ◽

Mean Power Frequency ◽

Caffeine Ingestion ◽

Cycling Time Trial ◽

Time To Completion ◽

Cycling Time

This study analyzed the effect of caffeine ingestion on performance during a repeated-measures, 100-km, laboratory cycling time trial that included bouts of 1- and 4-km high intensity epochs (HIE). Eight highly trained cyclists participated in 3 separate trials—placebo ingestion before exercise with a placebo carbohydrate solution and placebo tablets during exercise (Pl), or placebo ingestion before exercise with a 7% carbohydrate drink and placebo tablets during exercise (Cho), or caffeine tablet ingestion before and during exercise with 7% carbohydrate (Caf). Placebo (twice) or 6 mg · kg−1 caffeine was ingested 60 min prior to starting 1 of the 3 cycling trials, during which subjects ingested either additional placebos or a caffeine maintenance dose of 0.33 mg · kg−1 every 15 min to trial completion. The 100-km time trial consisted of five 1-km HIE after 10, 32, 52, 72, and 99 km, as well as four 4-km HIE after 20, 40, 60, and 80 km. Subjects were instructed to complete the time trial and all HIE as fast as possible. Plasma (caffeine) was significantly higher during Caf (0.43 ± 0.56 and 1.11 ± 1.78 mM pre vs. post Pl; and 47.32 ± 12.01 and 72.43 ± 29.08 mM pre vs. post Caf). Average power, HIE time to completion, and 100-km time to completion were not different between trials. Mean heart rates during both the 1-km HIE (184.0 ± 9.8 Caf; 177.0 ± 5.8 Pl; 177.4 ± 8.9 Cho) and 4-km HIE (181.7 ± 5.7 Caf; 174.3 ± 7.2 Pl; 175.6 ± 7.6 Cho; p < .05) was higher in Caf than in the other groups. No significant differences were found between groups for either EMG amplitude (IEMG) or mean power frequency spectrum (MPFS). IEMG activity and performance were not different between groups but were both higher in the 1-km HIE, indicating the absence of peripheral fatigue and the presence of a centrally-regulated pacing strategy that is not altered by caffeine ingestion. Caffeine may be without ergogenic benefit during endurance exercise in which the athlete begins exercise with a defined, predetermined goal measured as speed or distance.

Download Full-text