EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE AS AN ERGOGENIC AID ON WEIGHT LIFTING REGIMES IN MALE COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

K. Lang & E. B. LaFountaine Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN Pre-workout supplements are popular for today’s exercise enthusiasts. Widely available, caffeine has been studied for its health advantages and disadvantages. Caffeine in low to moderate amounts had an ergogenic effect on whole body exercise as indicated by Spriet (2014). Woolf, Bidwell, and Carlson (2008) reported the use of caffeine as an ergogenic aid significantly increased the results of the chest press for men during resistance training; however, no significant difference was reported between the caffeine group and placebo group during the Wingate test or leg press. Currently, the effects caffeine pills may have on athletes during their regimented out of season lifting workouts is not yet delineated. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of caffeine as an ergogenic aid in weight lifting regimens for male collegiate athletes. A one-sample experimental design will examine the differences in the dependent variable of perceived exertion scores between the caffeine and placebo trials. Ten male athletes selected from each of the following sport teams of hockey, football, and soccer are participating in this study. Participants are in the process of completing six workouts from their set weight lifting regimen on six different days. Before each workout, participants are consuming a randomly preselected caffeine tablet supplement or a placebo tablet. Participants completed a pre-workout survey and will complete a post-workout survey that provides information regarding extraneous factors to be taken into consideration. The survey also includes the reps, sets, and weights completed, and perceived feelings of fatigue. The self reported reps, sets, and weights lifted will be compared between the conditions. A paired t-test will be used to examine differences in the survey scores between the caffeine and placebo trials. Anticipated results may reveal that the caffeine trials will generate significantly (p \u3c .05) lower perceived feelings of fatigue. Based on the expected results, caffeine may enhance resistance training workouts due to lower feelings of fatigue, therefore the individual may want to workout at higher intensities and/or frequencies. In addition, it may be observed that subjects will have higher volume and load during the caffeine weight lifting sessions. Data collection is in progress and will be completed by mid March. IRB approval #1415-0074. NACSM Professional Sponsor: Bruce Van Duse