Caffeine and Its Effect on Athletic Performance

Caffeine is a part of many people’s daily morning routines whether that be as coffee, tea, energy drinks, or some other type of caffeinated beverage to get their day started. However, not everyone that is consuming caffeine may know the effects that it is having on the body. Athletes have busy schedules to fit in training along with other activities every single day and will often use caffeine as an energy source however, many athletes do not understand how caffeine is affecting their athletic performance. Athletes’ consumption of caffeine can have both negative and positive effects on the body. It can cause an increase in power output and performance but can also cause negative physiological effects on the body. An example of a negative physiological effect caffeine has on the body is an increase in blood pressure. This can make it dangerous for the athlete if they already have elevated blood pressure. It can also negatively impact the body by causing insomnia, anxiety, and mood disorders. Caffeine can have a positive impact on performance by increasing jump performance and overall power output. In some instances, it was found to decrease times in endurance exercise tests and decrease RPE which allowed athletes to perform better. This presentation will evaluate the positive and negative effects caffeine has on performance to help athletes develop a better understanding of how caffeine affects their athletic performance