Question for you...

Can your morning cup of caffeine, affect the posture of your head, hips and everything in-between?

Let me preface by saying, this article isn't meant to answer this question perpetually. Rather, it's to get your gears turning when it comes to thinking about the human body holistically; bones, muscles, nerves...hormones they all play a part.

Caffeine is the world's most commonly consumed drug, which is coincidentally an ergogenic - "A substance which improves or enhances physical performance". It also helps improve alertness (a eugeroic) and is widely touted to promote cognitive abilities (nootropic), totally worth that $7 plus societally pressured tip every morning right?

With its only shortcoming seeming like unavoidable trips to the bathroom, and of course insomnia in excess; do we ever stop to ask ourselves whether or not our caffeinated beverages are affecting our working postures? 

Afterall, it is an ergogenic substance which, in theory, promotes physical performance isn't it?

"Can I get a large double-double?"

Let's start with some basics on how caffeine affects the human body to truly understand the role between this ergogenic and its potential impact on ergonomic factors like our posture.

On average, typical caffeine consumption among the working population can be anywhere from 150 to 300mg in one serving. Interestingly, consumption of 200–400 mg of caffeine is reportedly enough to produce similar effects as alcohol consumption with regards to dehydration (Cildir et al., 2021). This is also a good portion of the reason why caffeine is not an antithesis to alcohol when trying to sober up (Liguori et al., 2001).

In short, caffeine is a stimulant and has an excitatory effect on automatic motor control which theoretically increases the amount of output towards postural control. BUT, there is a limit (yet to be unanimously agreed upon) to which its benefits cease and contribute towards an increase in postural sway; particularly during standing (Cildir et al., 2021).

Postural sway refers to those many microadjustments the body involuntarily makes in order to maintain balance. With a generous amount of caffeine in the mix, the magnitude of these microadjustments increase, however, so does our sense of alertness; enabling us to remain standing...most of the time. 

"Lift without my pre-workout? I'd Never!"

On the topic of how great caffeine makes us feel, I think we can undeniably agree we feel 'stronger' when we ingest it; able to lift heavier, run faster, workout just that much longer. This is one of the few phenomenon that has existed longer than traffic on the 401 (Toronto highway). When it comes to more static postures observed when at work, or even postures which require greater amounts of stability to perform fine motor work, is caffeine just as beneficial?

Can drinking a caffeinated beverage act as a buffer for stiff muscles begging some of us to reach for that bottle of Advil?

Unfortunately no, if anything caffeine works against us here. Of the many intramuscular events which occur upon caffeine consumption, reduced intracellular pump activity (Ca2+) is one of them (Allen et al., 1995). 

It increases the amount of time stiff muscles need to become relaxed. Couple this with its diuretic effect potentially leaving you under or dehydrated by the work day's end.....that pounding tension headache isn't going anywhere anytime soon if it's the result of tight muscles and conditions such as upper cross syndrome.

"1+1 = 2"

Back to our original question, can the ergogenic substance caffeine affect our working postures?

If we simplify things for an answer independent of other variables such as a regular exercise/recovery routine, proper nutrition and sleep hygiene; it's very likely caffeine works against us in maintaining neutral working postures. We have two factors attributing to this in postural sway increase & muscle relaxation latency.

As stated, this article isn't meant to perpetually answer this question because there are many other variables on the table in need of analysis prior to making a solid conclusion. 

Caffeine is a compound which isn't exclusive to coffee, which is the caffeinated drink many of today's studies utilize for their data, as well as the drink of choice for much of the world's population. 

Coffee contains roughly just under 1000 compounds acting simultaneously with caffeine upon ingestion. Whether or not a simple caffeine pill on its own will produce the exact same affects is yet to be confirmed. 

Thoughts?

Allen DG, Westerblad H. The effects of caffeine on intracellular calcium, force and the rate of relaxation of mouse skeletal muscle. J Physiol. 1995 Sep 1;487 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2):331-42. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1995.sp020883. PMID: 8558467; PMCID: PMC1156576.

Çıldır B, Altın B, Aksoy S. Caffeine Enhances the Balance System and Postural Balance in Short Time in Healthy Individuals. Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Dec;59(4):253-260. doi: 10.4274/tao.2021.2021-4-17. Epub 2022 Feb 22. PMID: 35262042; PMCID: PMC8864202.

Liguori A, Robinson JH. Caffeine antagonism of alcohol-induced driving impairment. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001 Jul 1;63(2):123-9. doi: 10.1016/s0376-8716(00)00196-4. PMID: 11376916.