Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate Ingestion on Recovery in High-Level Judokas

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) effect on recovery in high-level judokas. Methods: The sample of participants consisted of 10 male judokas (Age = 20 ± 2.1 years) who are judo masters (black belt holders) with a minimum of 10 years of training and competition experience. The study was designed as a double-blinded crossover design with the order of treatments being randomly assigned. The washout period was 72 h. All subjects received a dose of sodium bicarbonate (0.3 g/kg body weight) or a placebo 120 min before the fatigue caused by the special judo fitness test (SJFT). Lactate concentration (LC), countermovement jump (CMJ), hand grip strength and degree of perceived fatigue on Borg’s scale (RPE) were tested two times before SJFT and four times after SJFT. Results: There was no interaction between groups and type of recovery at any time during the two types of recovery for RPE, grip strength, VJ and lactate concentration (p > 0.05). However, there was a main effect of time for dominant grip strength (F(1,8)= 3.3; p = 0.01; η2 = 0.25, (small)), non-dominant grip strength (F(1,8) = 3.2; p = 0.01; η2 = 0.24, (small)), CMJ (F(1,8) = 8.8; p = 0.01; η2 = 0.47, (small)), and LC (F(1,8) = 124.2; p = 0.001; η2 = 0.92, (moderate)). Conclusions: The results of the present study show no significant difference between the NaHCO3 and placebo groups in RPE, handgrip strength, CMJ, and lactate concentration.