Caffeine and Sport Climbing Performance (Climbing&CAF)

University of Alcala

Status: Completed

Conditions: Caffeine; Climbing

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Acute and moderate dose of caffeine (3 mg/kg body mass)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07333443

CEIP/2024/5/117 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine the effects of ingesting caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg body mass on pull-up performance and handgrip-related measures in trained climbers.

Full description

Introduction: Caffeine is widely recognized as a performance-enhancing substance across numerous athletic disciplines; however, its role in sport climbing has received comparatively limited scientific attention. Because climbing performance relies heavily on grip force, explosive upper-body strength, and localized muscular endurance, this investigation evaluated the short-term impact of a low caffeine dose on climbing-relevant performance outcomes.

Objective: To determine the effects of ingesting caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg body mass on pull-up performance and handgrip-related measures in trained climbers.

Methods: Thirteen trained young male climbers participated in a triple-blind, randomized, crossover study design, completing two experimental conditions (caffeine and placebo). Performance assessments included a pull-up one-repetition maximum (1RM), a pull-up power test conducted at multiple external loads, a pull-up endurance test, and several grip performance evaluations, namely maximal dead-hang duration, maximal dead-hang force, and rate of force development (RFD).

Enrollment: 13 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy individuals
• Age between 18 and 40 years
• At least three months of continuous climbing practice
• Ability to hang for at least 5 seconds from an 18-mm edge
• Ability to perform at least one strict body-weight pull-up

Exclusion criteria

• Any musculoskeletal or medical condition preventing completion of the experimental protocol
• Participation in less than three training sessions per week or a total training volume <150 min/week
• Use of medications or dietary supplements known to affect caffeine metabolism

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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13 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

0 mg/kg of caffeine

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Caffeine

Experimental group

Description:

3 mg/kg of caffeine

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Acute and moderate dose of caffeine (3 mg/kg body mass)