Effects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion during and after exercise: a meta-analysis.

TLDR: Regression analysis revealed that RPE obtained during exercise could account for ∼29% of the variance in the improvement in exercise performance and this may partly explain the subsequent ergogenic effects of caffeine on performance.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of caffeine ingestion on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) Twenty-one studies with 109 effect sizes (ESs) met the inclusion criteria Coding incorporated RPE scores obtained both during constant load exercise (n=89) and upon termination of exhausting exercise (n=20) In addition, when reported, the exercise performance ES was also computed (n=16) In comparison to placebo, caffeine reduced RPE during exercise by 56% (95% CI (confidence interval), -45% to -67%), with an equivalent RPE ES of -047 (95% CI, -035 to -059) These values were significantly greater (P<005) than RPE obtained at the end of exercise (RPE % change, 001%; 95% CI, -19 to 20%; RPE ES, 000, 95% CI, -017 to 017) In addition, caffeine improved exercise performance by 112% (95% CI; 46-178%) Regression analysis revealed that RPE obtained during exercise could account for approximately 29% of the variance in the improvement in exercise performance The results demonstrate that caffeine reduces RPE during exercise and this may partly explain the subsequent ergogenic effects of caffeine on performance