Athletes

The purpose of the present study was to cross-validate the BOD POD (BP) measurements of male high school athletes with those obtained from hydrostatic weighing (HW). Additionally, the percent body fat values measured via near-infrared interactance (NIR), bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and skinfold (SF) were compared to HW to determine the validity of these measures. Thirty male, high school athletes (mean age +/- SD = 15.8 +/- 1.0 yrs) volunteered to have their % fat estimated. The findings from the present study indicated that the NIR and BIA instruments resulted in total error values that were too large to be of practical value (TE = 11.0 and TE = 6.5% fat, respectively). The BP (TE = 3.8% fat) produced acceptable measures (TE < 4.0% fat), but compared to all SF (TE = < 3.5% fat) estimations, BP was higher. These data suggest that the BP can produce acceptable body fat measures for male high school athletes, but is not superior to SF.

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of caffeine supplementation on strength and muscular endurance in resistance-trained women. In a randomized manner, 15 women consumed caffeine (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PL) seven days apart. Sixty minutes following supplementation, participants performed a one repetition maximum (1RM) barbell bench press test and repetitions to failure at 60% of 1RM. Heart rate and blood pressure were assessed at rest, 60 minutes post-consumption, and immediately following completion of repetitions to failure. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significantly greater bench press maximum with caffeine (p<0.05) (52.9 « 11.1 kg vs. 52.1 « 11.7 kg) with no significant differences between conditions in 60% 1RM repetitions (p=0.81). Systolic blood pressure was significantly greater post-exercise, with caffeine (p<0.05) (116.8 « 5.3 mmHg vs. 112.9 « 4.9 mmHg). Our findings indicate a moderate dose of caffeine may be sufficient for enhancing strength performance in resistance-trained women.