Low and High Doses of Espresso Coffee Improve Repeated Sprint Performance and Eye–Hand Coordination Following Fatigue Status in Male Basketball Players

Background

Although several studies have evaluated the effect of coffee on sports performance, the effect of caffeine on sports performance during fatigue status remains unclear.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the effect of high and low doses of coffee on the repeated sprint test (RST), perceived fatigue (PF), and eye–hand coordination following physical fatigue status in male basketball players.

Methods

Twenty-four male basketball players were randomly placed in 4 conditions including 1) low-dose espresso coffee (LDEC); 2) high-dose espresso coffee (HDEC); 3) decaffeinated espresso coffee (PLA); and 4) no drinking (CON). PF and eye–hand coordination were measured using the soda pop test (SPT) at baseline, immediately after the RST, and 5 min after the 10 all-out sprints with a 30-s interval of RST.

Results

The time of the first to tenth sprints (RST₁ to RST₁₀), total time (RST-TT), mean time (RST-MT), best time (RST-BT), and percentage of performance decrement (PD) were recorded. Coffee dose-dependently significantly improved RST-TT, RST-MT, and RST-BT compared with PLA and CON. PF increased significantly in all conditions immediately after RST compared with baseline. Five minutes after RST, PF was reduced compared to immediately after RST. Immediately after RST, coffee reduced PF dose-dependently compared with PLA and CON. SPT decreased immediately after RST in PLA and CON compared with baseline, whereas no significant change was observed for LDEC and HDEC. At baseline and immediately after RST, coffee and placebo consumption increased SPT performance compared with CON. Immediately and 5 min after RST, coffee increased SPT performance compared to PLA dose-dependently.

Conclusions

HDEC and LDEC improved RST performance and eye–hand coordination in male basketball players. However, HDEC showed a more profound effect compared with LDEC.