The effect of chocolate drinks on pulse recovery in Sparta table tennis athletes at Medan State University

Background. The effect of chocolate drinks on pulse recovery in Medan State University Sparta table tennis athletes was examined in this study. One of the common challenges faced by table tennis athletes during intense training or competition is the inability to fully recover from fatigue between training sessions or consecutive matches. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of consuming chocolate drinks on pulse recovery in table tennis athletes. Materials and methods. The study employed an experimental quantitative design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach, where a single sample group underwent two assessments: before and after the intervention. The study population consisted of Sparta table tennis athletes from Medan State University. The Harvard Step Test method was used, followed by manual pulse rate measurement. Data analysis involved descriptive techniques, including the normality test and paired t-test. Results. The study results showed a p-value of 0.00 (p < 0.05), with a mean difference of 18.66 between the pre-test and post-test groups. This indicates a statistically significant difference before and after the intervention. The findings suggest that consuming chocolate drinks has a significant effect on VO2max recovery in Sparta table tennis athletes at Medan State University. Conclusion. The consumption of chocolate drinks significantly improves pulse recovery and VO2max levels in table tennis athletes, facilitating better recovery between training sessions and matches.