Although it's too soon to recommend dropping by Starbucks before hitting the gym, a new study suggests that caffeine can help you reduce soreness after you work out.

University researchers found that moderate doses of caffeine, roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee, cut post-workout muscle pain by up to 48 percent, more than aspirin and other over-the-counter products.

In a study for February's The Journal of Pain, Dr. Victor Maridakis, a kinesiology researcher at the University of Georgia, said the findings are intriguing for people new to exercise, since they tend to experience the most soreness. And usually that soreness makes them give up exercising, he added.

"If you can use caffeine to reduce the pain, it may make it easier to transition from that first week into a much longer exercise program," he said.

Moderate soreness 

Maridakis and his colleagues studied nine female college students who were not regular caffeine users and did not engage in regular resistance training.

One and two days after an exercise session that caused moderate muscle soreness, the women took either caffeine pills or fake pills, and then performed two thigh exercises, each with a different amount of force. 

Those volunteers who consumed caffeine an hour before the maximum force test enjoyed a 48-percent reduction in pain compared to the women who took fake pills. The women who took caffeine before the less-force exercise reported a 26-percent reduction in pain.

Caffeine has long been known to increase alertness and endurance. In 2003, Dr. Patrick O'Connor, a professor at the university, found in his own study that caffeine reduces thigh pain during moderate-intensity cycling.

Not 'going overboard'

O'Connor, who helped conduct the current project, said caffeine likely works by blocking the body's receptors for adenosine, a chemical released in response to inflammation.

But he warned regular coffee drinkers may not get the same effect because they are less sensitive to caffeine's effect. What's more, the study involved only women, so researchers aren't sure whether men will react differently.

In addition, the small number of women means larger studies are needed to see if the results hold up, O'Connor added.

Despite these limitations, caffeine appears to be more effective in relieving post-workout muscle pain than several commonly used drugs.

Previous studies have found that the pain reliever naproxen - the active ingredient in Aleve - produced a 30-percent reduction in soreness. Aspirin produced a 25-percent reduction, and ibuprofen has produced inconsistent results.

"A lot of times what people use for muscle pain is aspirin or ibuprofen, but caffeine seems to work better than those drugs, at least among women whose daily caffeine consumption is low," O'Connor said.

Still, the researchers recommend that people use caution when using caffeine before a workout. For some people, too much caffeine can produce side effects such as jitteriness, heart palpitations and sleep disturbances.

"It can reduce pain, but you have to apply some common sense and not go overboard," Maridakis said.

Source: University of Georgia
Reference: The Journal of Pain

This summary by Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., is a snapshot of larger, more detailed studies and/or research projects. Nubella News encourages all site visitors and readers interested in understanding the material contained within this article at a more detailed level, to perform additional research and investigation into the article topics, references, and any links provided within the material. Nubella News does not intend to offer medical advice. We recommend that all readers ask their doctor or medical professional for additional advice, guidance, and/or recommendations pertaining to this article.