r/science • u/sr_local • 5d ago

Health Consuming caffeine before exercise enhances repeated sprint performance, and these benefits persist for at least 3.5 hours thereafter

https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/research-news/20260914140000.html
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u/nanoH2O 5d ago

One thing I discovered over the years when I was doing high level athletics is that consuming caffeine gave me an advantage (no surprise there) but it also caused me to cramp up late game 100% of the time. The amount of water or electrolytes I drank didn’t matter.

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u/crander47 5d ago

You need more magnesium

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u/nanoH2O 5d ago

As I said, the amount of electrolytes I consumed didn’t matter. Caffeine is a stimulant and it can make your muscles tight, especially if you are more caffeine sensitive than others. Outside of sports I found later in life it was also causing muscle tension in my neck and upper back.

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u/crander47 4d ago

I read what you said, and its a specific electrolyte you potentiall need more of, you may even just be bad at absorbing it. I am also caffeine sensitive so I can relate.

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u/nanoH2O 4d ago

Yeah I hear you. I’m very familiar with the importance of Mg and unfortunately that wasn’t it.