• Marinho AH
• Cavalcante GMS
• Costa MGDS
• Geraldes AAR
• de Araujo GG

• Affiliation / Federal University of Alagoas. Faculty of Nutrition. Post-Graduate Nutrition Program
• Affiliation / Federal University of Alagoas. Institute of Physical Education and Sports. Laboratory of Applied Sports Science - Laboratório de Ciências Aplicadas ao Esporte (LACAE)
• Affiliation / Federal University of Alagoas. Laboratory of Physical Fitness, Performance and Health - Laboratório de Aptidão Física, Desempenho e Saúde (LAFIDES)
• Affiliation(G) / Brazil / Alagoas / Maceió
• Aged
• Aging
• Caffeine
• Exercise
• Exercise Movement Techniques
• Open Access Document
• Performance-Enhancing Substances
• Physical Functional Performance
• Quality of Life
• Sports Nutritional Sciences

Objective: The study aimed to assess responsiveness to the effects of acute caffeine intake after 8 weeks of Pilates intervention in healthy older adults.

Methods: Fifteen healthy older adults performed physical performance regarding daily practice, strength, and balance tests after ingestion of acute 5 mg/kg of caffeine or placebo before and after Pilates training.

Results: The caffeine intake reduced, regardless of Pilates training, the time in 10-m walk test (before placebo vs caffeine, 6.48 ± 0.70 vs 6.51 ± 0.82 seconds; after placebo vs caffeine, 5.84 ± 0.70 vs 5.48 ± 0.61 seconds; P = .008; η_p² = 0.404) and timed up and go test (before placebo vs caffeine, 26.30 ± 1.82 vs 24.37 ± 2.12 seconds; after placebo vs caffeine, 22.96 ± 2.36 vs 22.49 ± 2.27 seconds; P = .002; η_p² = 0.517) compared with the placebo. Participants were not less responsive to caffeine intake in the 10-m walk test (ΔPre vs ΔPost, −0.33 ± 0.66 vs −0.36 ± 0.53 seconds; P = .888), but they were less responsive for the timed up and go test (ΔPre vs ΔPost, −1.92 ± 2.06 vs −0.47 ± 1.15 seconds; P = 0.030) after Pilates intervention. There were no differences for the sit-to-stand test, rising from the floor, dress and undress T-shirt, handgrip strength, and balance variables.

Conclusion: Although the caffeine improved on the 10-m walk test and timed up and go test performance, healthy older adults were less responsive to caffeine after Pilates training only for performance on the timed up and go test.

Author Keywords: Aging; Performance-Enhancing Substances; Physical functional performance; Quality of life; Sports Nutritional Sciences

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