Having coffee before an exercise not only energizes you but also reduces the pain involved in the process. Caffeine affects the brain and the spinal chord which are involved in the signaling of the pain. Caffeine blocks adenosine which is the biochemical that plays a very important role in the transfer of energy and hence is involved in an exercising individual. Hence caffeine can reduce pain.

The study involved 25 healthy men who were divided into 2 groups. One had low or no intake of coffee whereas the other had atleast 3 to 4 cups a day. Cyclists were involved in this study who were told not to have coffee 24 hours before exercising. An hour before exercising, they were either given a placebo or given a dose equivalent to 2- 3 cups of coffee. During the study pain in the quadriceps, heart rate, consumption of oxygen and work out rate were recorded at regular intervals.

The results they saw were unexpected. They found that both habitual and non- habitual coffee drinkers saw the same amount of reduction in pain. There was no development of tolerance in people who regularly had coffee. But the energy level was seen to be higher in habitual drinkers relative to non drinkers of coffee.

Research is required to find out if this would result in better performance in sports as well. Most of the time people stop exercising when they experience pain in the muscles. The pains tell a person to withdraw. This study proves that having a little amount of caffeine before a work out can result in less pain and as a result the person would take longer exercise sessions. This will help a physically inactive person to work out enough to have physical benefits.  More information can always be found from the source of the article.