NCT07333443

Caffeine and Sport Climbing Performance

Caffeine Ingestion at Acute and Moderate Doses Does Not Improve Sport Climbing Performance: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 13 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Alcala · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

To determine the effects of ingesting caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg body mass on pull-up performance and handgrip-related measures in trained climbers.

Detailed description

Introduction: Caffeine is widely recognized as a performance-enhancing substance across numerous athletic disciplines; however, its role in sport climbing has received comparatively limited scientific attention. Because climbing performance relies heavily on grip force, explosive upper-body strength, and localized muscular endurance, this investigation evaluated the short-term impact of a low caffeine dose on climbing-relevant performance outcomes. Objective: To determine the effects of ingesting caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg body mass on pull-up performance and handgrip-related measures in trained climbers. Methods: Thirteen trained young male climbers participated in a triple-blind, randomized, crossover study design, completing two experimental conditions (caffeine and placebo). Performance assessments included a pull-up one-repetition maximum (1RM), a pull-up power test conducted at multiple external loads, a pull-up endurance test, and several grip performance evaluations, namely maximal dead-hang duration, maximal dead-hang force, and rate of force development (RFD).

Conditions

• Climbing
• Caffeine

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Acute and moderate dose of caffeine (3 mg/kg body mass)	Caffeine supplementation was provide to young male climbers.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Placebo	Placebo supplementation was provide to young male climbers.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-08
• Primary completion: 2025-03-30
• Completion: 2025-10-30
• First posted: 2026-01-12
• Last updated: 2026-01-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain