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Author：Chin-Wei Lee; Hsuan-Yun Wang; Chi-Hsiang Hung; Hsin-Yi Hsu; Chien-Wen Hou; Wei-Hsiang Chang
Period/Date/Page：Vol. 26 No. 1 (2024 / 03 / 31) ， P73 - 87
DOI：10.5297/ser.202403_26(1).0005
Effect of Acute Energy Drink Supplementation on Softball-Specific Skills in Female Players
Abstract：Energy drinks are widely used for ergogenic supplementation in addition to vitamins, and can enhance athletic performance. Softball requires elements of physical conditioning such strength, speed, and agility. Players' hitting-and pitching-specific skills play a key role. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of acute energy drink supplementation on hitting- and pitching-specific skills in softball players. Twelve elite women's college softball players were recruited in this double-blind, randomized, counter-balanced, and crossover study. Softball-specific skills were measured under receiving three dosages of pre-exercise energy drink supplementation prior to measurement with high dosage energy drink (HED), low dosage energy drink (LED), or placebo (PLA). The results revealed that acute HED supplementation significantly improves specific batting abilities, such as increased bat swing velocity and effective hit. However, when compared to LED and PLA, no significant differences were observed. In terms of pitching capabilities, it was observed that both HED and LED supplementation significantly increased the number of effective pitches and pitching accuracy. Nevertheless, despite both doses of energy drink supplementation improving pitching abilities, the enhancement effects of HED were significantly higher than those of LED in both pitching performance indicators. In conclusion, this study suggests that acute energy drink supplementation improves bat swing velocity, effective hit, effective pitch, and pitching accuracy in female softball players. Therefore, considering individual tolerance to caffeine in dose adjustments, pre-exercise energy drink supplementation could yield positive benefits for the athletic performance of female softball players. (Full text)
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