Caffeine intake increases countermovement jump performance in well-trained high jumpers

Background

Caffeine (CAF) has been shown to be an efficient ergogenic in improving the performance of countermovement jump tests (CMJ). However, it has not been evaluated whether this improvement reproduces itself in well-trained high jumpers.

Methods

To determine the effect of caffeine ingestion on CMJ performance, eight (5 men and 3 women) well-trained high-jumpers performed three CMJ one hour after the ingestion of cellulose (PLA) or CAF (5 mg.kg⁻¹ body mass). The kinematic and kinetic parameters obtained during the CMJ were recorded using a force platform.

Results

Compared with the PLA, CAF increased CMJ height (+11.74 ± 12.78%, P = 0.040), peak power (+8.75 ± 7.74%, P = 0.012), peak velocity (+5.55 ± 6.11%, P = 0.038), and velocity at peak power (+5.92 ± 6.91%, P = 0.051). CAF intake had no influence on contact time (P = 0.751), peak force (P = 0.920), rate of force development (P = 0.546), and GRF at peak power (P = 0.155). The percentage gain in jump height with CAF ingestion was significantly correlated with the percentage gain in peak power (P = 0.006) and velocity at peak power (P = 0.001), but not with the percentage gain in GRF at peak power (P = 0.835).

Conclusion

CAF ingestion improves jumping performance during a CMJ in well-trained high jumpers, probably due to gains in jump velocity. Considering the difficulties of improving performance in well-trained athletes, our findings suggest that CAF is a powerful ergogenic supplement for this population.