The Muscle Mag
The study, which was randomised, double-blind, and a crossover study, was published in the journal Nutrients. It aimed to assess the impact of supplementing with 5 mg/kg body weight of caffeine over one week of training.
Researchers from Spain discovered that caffeine intake improved the well-being, physical performance, and perception of fatigue in female volleyball team athletes.
Research Focused on Women Needed
Caffeine is commonly used as an ergogenic aid in athletic performance, with its effects on aerobic and anaerobic activities. It enhances strength, power capacity, and delays fatigue by affecting intracellular calcium and Na+-K+ ATPase pump activity.
Past studies have shown that supplementing with a dose of three to nine mg/kg body weight can enhance performance. Intake of caffeine one hour before a training session has been found to be an optimal strategy due to its quick absorption and plasma availability.
While caffeine’s effects on jumping performance in volleyball are known, its impact on agility and change of direction remains uncertain, especially in women’s volleyball. More research is needed in this area.
Caffeine has been found to reduce perceived exertion and decrease muscular soreness, although the effects may be less pronounced in women. It is important to note that caffeine intake may negatively affect sleep quality, particularly in women athletes.
“The scientific literature on the ergogenic effect of caffeine on women’s volleyball players is limited, highlighting the need for further research on its effects on physical performance, fatigue, and wellness,” the authors emphasized.
The ‘Super League’ Study
The study involved eight semi-professional women’s volleyball players from the “Spanish Women’s Superleague 2,” aged between 17 and 25 years, who were assigned to either a caffeine or placebo group. The participants switched groups after a one-week washout period.
Both groups underwent various tests, including countermovement jumps, repeated jumps, handgrip tests, and assessments of change of direction. Well-being was also assessed using a wellness questionnaire.
Results from ANOVA tests indicated a significant impact of caffeine supplementation on physical performance, perceived muscle damage, and fatigue. The caffeine group showed better handgrip results in the dominant hand compared to the placebo group.
Further research is required to understand the correlation between physical performance and well-being parameters, especially during competitive periods like playoffs. Source: Nutrients, doi: doi.org/10.3390/nu16010029, “The Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Female Volleyball Players’ Performance and Wellness during a Regular Training Week” by Jesús Siquier-Coll et al.
