Caffeine Supplementation on Movement Patterns and Reactive Agility in Rugby Sevens Matches

September 29, 2024 updated by: Chen Kang, National Taiwan Sport University

Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Movement Patterns and Reactive Agility in Rugby Sevens Matches

Caffeine is widely used by rugby players for its performance-enhancing effects. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) the impact of caffeine supplementation on various performance metrics, including distance covered at different speeds, acceleration, deceleration, collisions, and repeated high-intensity efforts; and (2) reactive agility, across four matches over two consecutive days in collegiate male rugby sevens players.A position-matched, double-blind, randomized crossover design was employed, with six male collegiate rugby players (mean height: 1.78 ± 0.09 m, mean weight: 81.3 ± 9.2 kg) participating in two trials. Each trial consisted of a two-day tournament, with two matches per day. Movement was monitored using global positioning system units.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study employed a position-matched, double-blind, randomized crossover design. Pairs of participants with similar playing positions, specifically forwards or backs/scrum halves, were randomly assigned to either the caffeine or placebo trial. Each trial comprised a two-day rugby sevens tournament, with participants playing two matches per day. Following a 13-day washout period, participants switched to the alternate trial. Both the participants and the research personnel were blinded to the supplementation condition throughout the study period, with the assignment of supplements disclosed to research personnel only after all data analyses were completed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

8

Phase

  • Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Taichung, Taiwan, 404
        • National Taiwan University of Sport

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Have undergone regular rugby training for at least three years
  • Member of a Division I university rugby team

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Musculoskeletal injury within one month prior to the study
  • Presence of major cardiovascular diseases
  • Presence of major metabolic diseases

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Caffeine
In the caffeine trial, participants ingested a capsule containing 3 mg/kg caffeine (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Osaka, Japan) 60 min prior to the match.
Dietary supplement: Caffeine 6mg/kg
In the caffeine trial, participants ingested a capsule containing 3 mg/kg caffeine 60 min prior to each rugby sevens match. There was 2 matches per day. So the total dosage is 6 mg/kg/ day
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
In the placebo trial, participants ingested a capsule containing starch (Chung-Yu Biotech Co LTD, Taichung, Taiwan) at the same time point.
Dietary supplement: Placebo
In the placebo trial, participants ingested a capsule containing starch 60 min before each rugby sevens match. There were 2 matches per day

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Distance and Distance Covered in Speed Zones
Time Frame: Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
This variable was measured with wearable global positioning system device during rugby sevens matches. Speed is divided into six zones: standing and walking (0-6 km/h), jogging (6-12 km/h), cruising (12-14 km/h), striding (14-18 km/h), high-intensity running (18-20 km/h), and sprinting (> 20 km/h). The distance covered in each speed zone and the total distance covered were recorded.
Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
Acceleration and Deceleration
Time Frame: Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
This variable was measured with wearable global positioning system device during rugby sevens matches. For an activity to be included in the analysis, the movement speed must exceed 5 km/h, and the acceleration must be greater than 2 m/s² or the deceleration must be less than -2 m/s², sustained for more than 0.9 s. If the interval between two movements is less than 1 s, the subsequent movement will be combined with the previous one for analysis. The frequency and distance covered during these acceleration and deceleration phases were recorded.
Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
collision
Time Frame: Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
This variable was measured with wearable global positioning system device during rugby sevens matches. Collision is defined as the number of times a participant accumulates 0.5 s standing after body contact resulting in a fall. Specific collision events include rucks, tackles, and instances where a player falls after contact
Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
Repeated High-Intensity Effort
Time Frame: Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
This variable was measured with wearable global positioning system device during rugby sevens matches. A repeated high-intensity effort is defined as the completion of three or more high-intensity actions in succession, with rest periods of no more than 21 s between each action. The criteria for high-intensity actions include a movement speed of at least 14 km/h, an acceleration of at least 2 m/s², and a deceleration of at least -2 m/s²
Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Each participant completed 2 trials
Reactive Agility
Time Frame: Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Reactive agility was measured before each match. Each participant completed 2 trials
The participants sprinted with the ball, passing through a light gate, after which an indicator light immediately displayed a left or right direction. The participants had to respond by changing direction according to the indicator and continue moving until they passed the second light gate positioned 1.5 m away from the indicator. The fastest time from two attempts was used for analysis.
Each trial contained 2 days, with 2 matches on each day. Reactive agility was measured before each match. Each participant completed 2 trials

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Taiwan Sport University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Chen-Kang Chang, PhD, National Taiwan University of Sport

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 21, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 21, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

September 25, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 1, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2024

Last Verified

September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 111-03
  • MOST 111-2410-H-028-002-MY3 (Other Grant/Funding Number: National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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