Downing some strong coffee or an energy drink after a workout -- along with a carbohydrate, such as pasta -- can help people feel better more quickly, researchers said.

A team of Australian researchers said that people who recover with caffeine had 66 percent more glycogen in their muscles four hours after exercise. That means there is more energy for the next day's training or performance, said senior author John A. Hawley.

Glycogen is the primary fuel for muscle during exercise, they said in a news release, which also said that caffeine had previously been shown to improve other areas of athletic performance.

The study was based on a series of tests on seven long-distance cyclists. Though it was a small study, it was conducted with a placebo control and without researchers knowing which substance the riders were given. This kind of experiment is considered the most reliable.

The researchers said that they used a high dose of caffeine -- about equal to five or six cups of coffee -- to establish the connection, but hope to show that it also works at lower doses.