---
title: The Effects of Caffeine on Pain-Based Pacing During a Cycling Time-Trial
nct_id: NCT02115763
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: PHASE1
sponsor: University of Oklahoma
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Healthy
countries: United States
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT02115763.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02115763"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2017-06-05
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:38:17.685Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# The Effects of Caffeine on Pain-Based Pacing During a Cycling Time-Trial

**NCT ID:** [NCT02115763](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02115763)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** PHASE1
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 15
- **Lead Sponsor:** University of Oklahoma
- **Conditions:** Healthy
- **Start Date:** 2014-04
- **Completion Date:** 2015-05
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2017-06-05

## Brief Summary

Caffeine has been shown to consistently improve time-trial performance, warranting restrictions on consumption under regulation of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This ergogenic effect is not well understood, possibly occurring as a result of altered metabolism, improved strength, and/or reduced muscle pain. The hypothesis of altered metabolism has recently fallen out of favor while muscular strength has a tenuous relationship with endurance exercise performance. Reductions in muscle pain have been observed during low and moderate intensity endurance exercise, and this may be the mechanism of caffeine's ergogenic effect. In lieu of reducing pain during high intensity exercise, caffeine significantly improves performance. Therefore, caffeine appears to improve the amount of work that can be done for a given muscle pain rating, suggesting that participants may pace based upon sensations of muscle pain during endurance exercise. Most time-trial exercise is conducted in a fixed distance manner, measuring the time it takes participants to cover a given distance. Little research has been conducted on a fixed pain time-trial that would require participants to produce and sustain a given level of muscle pain while measuring the distance covered in an allotted time. A fixed pain time-trial could allow researchers to better understand the effect of pain on endurance performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of caffeine on a fixed pain time-trial.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 35 Years
- **Sex:** MALE
- **Healthy Volunteers:** Yes

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Caffeine Naive (\<40mg per day) physically active 18-35 year old men with no contraindications to exercise.

Exclusion Criteria:

* People who do not match the gender, age or caffeine limits;
* those with contraindications to exercise or who are not physically active
```

## Arms

- **Caffeine** (EXPERIMENTAL) — There is only one arm, it receives both caffeine and placebo.

## Interventions

- **Caffeine** (DRUG)
- **Placebo** (DRUG)

## Primary Outcomes

- **Stationary Cycle Ergometer** _(time frame: 30 minutes per session (6 sessions total))_ — The distance covered (meters) while exercising on the cycle ergometer will be recorded.

## Locations (1)

- University of Oklahoma Sensory and Muscle Function Lab, Norman, Oklahoma, United States

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.university of oklahoma sensory and muscle function lab|norman|oklahoma|united states` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT02115763.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02115763*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*