Coffee May Reduce Post-Workout Pain

Caffeine may reduce post-workout soreness that may discourage people from continuing their fitness program, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia.

The study showed that moderate amounts of caffeine, such as two cups of coffee, may help with the muscle pains felt after the workout by reducing them up to fifty percent.

The findings may be important for the people who are most affected by muscle pains, like those who just started an exercise program, said Victor Maridakis, a University of Georgia researcher. The study volunteers were not engaged in regular training and did not consume coffee regularly.

During the study the volunteers consumed coffee or a placebo and performed two different thigh exercises: the first group followed a program meant to produce a maximal force, while the other group had a sub-maximal force program.

The people who consumed coffee one hour before starting the maximum force test registered a forty-eight percent decrease of muscular pain compared to the placebo group. A twenty-six percent reduction of pain was registered for volunteers who drank coffee before the test from the sub-maximal group.

Although the study had positive results, those results may not be the same for everyone because some people can be less sensitive to caffeine, according to the researchers. A new study, with more volunteers and male subjects, will be undertaken. Men can respond different to caffeine.

Caffeine seems to be more efficient than some drugs used for pain relieving, at least for women who do not consume too much caffeine daily, said UGA professor Patrick O’Connor. Previous studies showed that naproxen may produce a thirty percent reduction of pain, aspirin a twenty-five percent reduction, and ibuprofen has inconsistent results.

Specialists recommend that people be careful with caffeine consumption before working out. Some people may have heart palpitations, jitteriness, or sleep disturbances because of the caffeine.