Effects of caffeine mouth rinses for short-term high intensity rowing (500m) performance and recovery on non-rowers

• Main Author: Muhammad Amir Hamzah Mohamed Pauzi
• Other Authors: Yang Yifan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::General
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76934
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Background: Ergogenic aid of caffeine (CAF) ingestion in anaerobic performance and recovery are equivocal, and high intake to elicit the effect may cause gastro-intestinal (GI) discomfort. Mouth rinses are hence used as an alternative method. Few studies have looked at CAF mouth rinses and its effects on anaerobic exercise. Purpose: To investigate effects of 2.4%CAF mouth rinses on short-term high intensity rowing (500m) performance and recovery during maximal exertion. Methods: Twelve male non-rowers underwent 2 x 500m row on a rowing ergometer with 10 min passive recovery and were given mouth rinse treatments of a combination of placebo (PLA), 2.4%CAF and PLA prior to 2.4%CAF rinse in a double-blind random order over 4 sessions including familiarisation. Total time (TT) to completion , heart rate (HR), RPE and blood lactate (BLa) concentrations were recorded. Results: All four variables measured showed no significant difference on all treatments for performance and recovery (p-value >0.05). Conclusion: 2.4%CAF mouth rinse provides no ergogenic aid towards anaerobic performance and recovery. Future research may consider small incremental increase between 1.2% and 2.4% of CAF concentration and test can be done on responders and non-responders to CAF on mouth rinses to determine the true effects of CAF on performance and recovery.