Hello guys,
I am experiencing stiffness in my legs lately after I use caffeine. It feels like my calves are shortening and my hip muscles are so stiff I cant even exorotate them normally without pain. I have read about caffeine and I found something about higher muscle contraction through more calcium release in the muscle. I want to keep using caffeine because it stimulates my nervous system very well and I didnt have these stiffness problems in the past when I also used caffeine. So I need a clue about what to change or what to do in order to keep using caffeine (pre-workout) without the stiffness. Most of my friends dont experience the same problem when taking the same pre-workout. What could be the problem? I am currently thinking about exhaustion of a certain mineral/vitamin that is used when you take caffeine but I am not sure about this theory. Below is the literature I have used.
Thank you for helping me out.
Mr. Smit (medicine student)
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeine on the amplitude and rate of skeletal
muscle contraction using frog sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle model. Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid whose
use is widely unregulated. It is taken as a central nervous system stimulant in various foods and drinks. The
effect of caffeine on skeletal muscle contraction and a possible elucidation of its mechanism of action were
investigated. The sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle preparation of the frog mounted on a kymograph was
utilized. Varying doses of caffeine was added to the organ bath at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/mL and its effect on
skeletal muscle contraction was studied. The effects of caffeine preceded by administration of acetylcholine,
atropine, nifedipine, magnesium chloride and calcium gluconate at 25 mg/mL were also studied. A dose
dependent increase in skeletal muscle contraction (25.25±0.48, 49.00 ±1.23, 52.38±2.58, 59.25±1.11 and
68.50±0.87 mV; p<0.05) was observed on administration of increasing doses (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/mL,
respectively) of caffeine respectively. While a significant reduction (0.90±0.04 mV) and increase (77.50±1.56
mV) in strength of contraction was observed on administration of nifedipine and calcium gluconate
respectively. Administration of magnesium chloride caused a significant decrease in the strength of contraction
(28.25±5.01) as compared to control. However, there was no significant difference in the contraction period
and relaxation period between the treatment groups. The findings imply that caffeine increases skeletal muscle
contraction and suggests it exerts the effect through increasing calcium ion release.
Authors: Kolawole Victor Olorunshola and L.N. Achie
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Nigeria