Marijuana and Its Effects on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Athletes often seek performance-enhancing substances.
• Marijuana's potential effects on physical capabilities are debated.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for athlete health and policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on marijuana's impact on athletic performance.
• To identify key physiological and performance outcomes affected by marijuana use.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) up to September 2016.
• Inclusion of primary studies involving adult athletes and marijuana use with control groups.
• Quality assessment using Cochrane collaboration tool and GRADE scale; no meta-analysis performed.

Main Results:

• Three trials were included, with 2 showing high risk of bias and 1 an unclear risk.
• Evidence regarding marijuana's effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and exercise duration is inconclusive.
• Low-quality evidence suggests no significant difference in grip strength but indicates potential bronchodilation (ergogenic) and decreased work capacity (ergolytic).

Conclusions:

• The current body of evidence is insufficient to determine marijuana's effects on athletic performance.
• The low number and quality of studies necessitate further rigorous research.
• Athletic performance outcomes remain unclear pending higher-quality investigations.