Research Paper Title

Effect of Energy Drink Consumption on Power and Velocity of Selected Sport Performance Activities.

Background

Energy drinks comprise a multi-billion dollar market focused on younger, active and competitive individuals. Marketing includes claims of improved alertness and performance.

The purpose of this study was to assess power (W) and velocity (m·s) of a simulated, isolated forehand stroke (FHS) and a counter movement vertical jump (CVJ) before and after ingestion of a commercially available energy shot (ES) or a placebo (PL).

Methods

Healthy college-aged male and female (N=36) volunteers were randomly placed in the ES or PL. Before and 30 min after ingesting either the ES or PL, participants performed three FHSs and CVJs. Power and velocity of each performance was measured using a linear velocity transducer and the highest value for each measure was used for subsequent analysis.

Results

The ES group demonstrated a significant (p=0.05) increase in velocity and power for the FHS, but not for the CVJ. All measures remained unchanged in the PL group for both, the FHS and CVJ. Females demonstrated a significant increase in velocity over males in FHS, but not in CVJ.

Conclusions

It was concluded that while the dose of stimulants in the ES was adequate to improve performance of smaller muscle groups, it may not have been sufficient to affect the larger muscle groups of the lower legs which contribute to the CVJ. While the ES used in the present study contained a caffeine dosage within the NCAA limit and did improve performance for the upper-body, it must be noted that there are health risks associated with energy drink consumption.

Reference

Jacobson, B.H., Hester, G.M., Palmer, T.B., Williams, K., Pope, Z.K., Sellers, J.H., Conchola, E.C., Woolsey, C. & Estrada, C. (2017) Effect of Energy Drink Consumption on Power and Velocity of Selected Sport Performance Activities. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002026. [Epub ahead of print].