The Effects of Caffeine on Physical Performance of Ice Hockey Players

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To date, only one study has evaluated the effect of caffeine supplementation on athletic performance in ice hockey players finding a lack of ergogenic effect. This lack of effect is surprising as caffeine has been suggested to be an effective and safe nutritional supplement to improve physical performance in both trained and untrained individuals. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of acute caffeine ingestion (3mg/kg body mass). Thirteen elite adult ice-hockey male players will perform specific ice hockey performance tests in two separate days. On both occasions players will ingest 330 ml of water with lemon powertabs isostar® (86 kcal / 19g of carbohydrates) tablets, which will include in one of these days 3 mg/kg body mass of anhydrous caffeine. Players will perform a 35-m sprint, an agility test (Weave agility - slalom with puck), and a reaction test.

Official Title
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The Effects of Caffeine on Physical Performance of Ice Hockey Players: A Cross-over Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Caffeine, Athletic Performance

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Caffeine
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo drink


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Over 18 years, Male Play in the Spanish ice hockey first division. Exclusion Criteria: Participants taking drugs containing ephedrine or antibiotics. Having suffered a musculoskeletal injury in the 3 months prior to the tests.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants will be given a bottle with either caffeine and carbohydrates or just carbohydrates. All participants will complete ice-hockey specific athletic tests in both conditions.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Caffeine<br>Dietary Supplement: Caffeine supplementation Participants will ingest caffeine in liquid form (3mg/kg) with carbohydrates. | Dietary Supplement: Caffeine<br>* Participants will ingest a drink with 3mg/kg of body weight mixed with carbohydrates<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Control condition<br>Participants will ingest a drink of carbohydrates without caffeine | Dietary Supplement: Placebo drink<br>* Participants will ingest the exact same drink without caffeine<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 35m sprint time (Seconds) | Time that participants take to skate 35 meters. Data will be collected with photoelectric cells | One day (one hour post caffeine consumption) | 
| Agility test time (Seconds) | Time that participants take to perform an agility circuit. Data will be collected with photoelectric cells | One day (one hour post caffeine consumption) | 
| Reaction test time (seconds) | Time that participants take to complete a reaction test circuit. Data will be collected with photoelectric cells. | One day (one hour post caffeine consumption) |