Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises

Background: Caffeine is widely used as an ergogenic aid to enhance strength performance; however, its effects on perceptual accuracy during submaximal force regulation remain unclear, particularly in multi-joint isometric tasks. This study examined whether caffeine ingestion influences maximal isome...

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Authors: Jiménez Ormeño, Ester, Giráldez-Costas Verónica, Lara-López, Beatriz, Ruiz-Moreno, Carlos
Format: article
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repository:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:biblosearchi::9f3ff0940f522d45c740a17726e56eb4
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10486/761681
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports14030090
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:stimulant
perception
isometric force
excitability
caffeine
Deportes
Medicina
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spelling Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric ExercisesJiménez Ormeño, EsterGiráldez-Costas VerónicaLara-López, BeatrizRuiz-Moreno, Carlosstimulantperceptionisometric forceexcitabilitycaffeineDeportesMedicinaBackground: Caffeine is widely used as an ergogenic aid to enhance strength performance; however, its effects on perceptual accuracy during submaximal force regulation remain unclear, particularly in multi-joint isometric tasks. This study examined whether caffeine ingestion influences maximal isometric force production and the accuracy of voluntary submaximal force estimation during complex isometric exercises. Methods: Seventeen recreationally trained participants completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Participants ingested either caffeine (4 mg·kg−1 body mass) or a placebo before performing an isometric squat test (ISqT) and an isometric mid-thigh pull test (IMTP). Maximal voluntary contractions were assessed, followed by freely estimated submaximal efforts at 50% and 75% of perceived maximal force. Relative peak force and discrepancies between prescribed and exerted force (estimation error) were analyzed, with discrepancies calculated as the difference between exerted force and the prescribed target intensity. Results: Caffeine ingestion did not significantly affect relative peak force during maximal isometric efforts nor improve the accuracy of voluntary submaximal force estimation. Regardless of supplementation conditions, participants consistently misestimated submaximal efforts, tending to overproduce force, particularly at lower intensities. The IMTP showed a closer approximation to prescribed submaximal targets than the ISqT. Conclusions: Ingesting 4 mg·kg−1 of caffeine does not enhance maximal isometric force output or perceptual accuracy during voluntary submaximal force regulation in multi-joint isometric tasks. Prescribing isometric intensity based solely on perceived effort may therefore be unreliable under these specific testing conditions, particularly at lower intensitiesVice-Rectorate for Research of Universidad Camilo José Cela (Project code: 09_23_RFDCAF)MDPIDepartamento de Educación Física, Deporte y Motricidad HumanaFacultad de Formación de Profesorado y Educación20262026-03-02research articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_2df8fbb1VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/10486/761681https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports14030090reponame:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAMinstname:Universidad Autónoma de MadridInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Attribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:biblosearchi::9f3ff0940f522d45c740a17726e56eb42026-06-23T12:46:27Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
title Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
spellingShingle Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
Jiménez Ormeño, Ester
stimulant
perception
isometric force
excitability
caffeine
Deportes
Medicina
title_short Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
title_full Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
title_fullStr Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
title_sort Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Jiménez Ormeño, Ester
Giráldez-Costas Verónica
Lara-López, Beatriz
Ruiz-Moreno, Carlos
author Jiménez Ormeño, Ester
author_facet Jiménez Ormeño, Ester
Giráldez-Costas Verónica
Lara-López, Beatriz
Ruiz-Moreno, Carlos
author_role author
author2 Giráldez-Costas Verónica
Lara-López, Beatriz
Ruiz-Moreno, Carlos
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Departamento de Educación Física, Deporte y Motricidad Humana
Facultad de Formación de Profesorado y Educación
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv stimulant
perception
isometric force
excitability
caffeine
Deportes
Medicina
topic stimulant
perception
isometric force
excitability
caffeine
Deportes
Medicina
description Background: Caffeine is widely used as an ergogenic aid to enhance strength performance; however, its effects on perceptual accuracy during submaximal force regulation remain unclear, particularly in multi-joint isometric tasks. This study examined whether caffeine ingestion influences maximal isometric force production and the accuracy of voluntary submaximal force estimation during complex isometric exercises. Methods: Seventeen recreationally trained participants completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Participants ingested either caffeine (4 mg·kg−1 body mass) or a placebo before performing an isometric squat test (ISqT) and an isometric mid-thigh pull test (IMTP). Maximal voluntary contractions were assessed, followed by freely estimated submaximal efforts at 50% and 75% of perceived maximal force. Relative peak force and discrepancies between prescribed and exerted force (estimation error) were analyzed, with discrepancies calculated as the difference between exerted force and the prescribed target intensity. Results: Caffeine ingestion did not significantly affect relative peak force during maximal isometric efforts nor improve the accuracy of voluntary submaximal force estimation. Regardless of supplementation conditions, participants consistently misestimated submaximal efforts, tending to overproduce force, particularly at lower intensities. The IMTP showed a closer approximation to prescribed submaximal targets than the ISqT. Conclusions: Ingesting 4 mg·kg−1 of caffeine does not enhance maximal isometric force output or perceptual accuracy during voluntary submaximal force regulation in multi-joint isometric tasks. Prescribing isometric intensity based solely on perceived effort may therefore be unreliable under these specific testing conditions, particularly at lower intensities
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026-03-02
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv research article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_2df8fbb1
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10486/761681
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports14030090
url https://hdl.handle.net/10486/761681
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports14030090
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
instname:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
instname_str Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
reponame_str Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
collection Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,811543

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