Effects of an External Nasal Dilator on Athletic Performance of Male Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined the effect of an external nasal dilator strip (ENDS) on three field tests of maximal performance and monitored the rating of perceived breathing effort (RPBE). Thirty male Chinese students (age 15.2 +/- 1.6 yrs) performed three maximal field tests: (a) short-term anaerobic power (SAnP: 40-m sprint); (b) long-term anaerobic power (LAnP: shuttle sprint); and (c) peak aerobic performance (AeP: multistage 20-m shuttle run) under three conditions: ENDS, placebo, and control. Students were randomly placed into 6 groups using a fully counterbalanced single-blind design. No significant differences were seen between conditions in the anaerobic performances measured by SAnP and LAnP. However, the ENDS produced a significant improvement in peak aerobic performance (p = 0.037) compared to the control condition of 3.2% (95% CI= 6.2-0.2; Cohen effect size = 0.2), and also compared to the placebo condition (p = 0.018) of 2.9% (95% CI = 5.1-0.2; Cohen effect size =0.2). The ENDS condition also significantly reduced RPBE during the AeP and LAnP tests by an average of 5.5% and 3.8%, respectively. Wearing an external nasal dilator can significantly reduce breathing effort and improve peak aerobic performance during field tests involving maximal running.

Does the external nasal dilator strip help in sports activity? A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A total of 17 studies evaluated VO 2 max [4-6, 10, 13, 17-19, 21-27, 29, 31], of which three indirectly assessed VO 2 max [5,6,18] in adolescents who regularly practice physical exercise. One of the studies directly assessed trained cyclists [29], others used triathletes [17,31], and a fourth was assessed VO 2 max during recovery from anaerobic exercise [13].…”

“…One of the studies directly assessed trained cyclists [29], others used triathletes [17,31], and a fourth was assessed VO 2 max during recovery from anaerobic exercise [13]. A significant difference in VO 2 max when using the END was noted in five studies only, whereby one evaluated male triathletes [17], three studied adolescents of both sexes who regularly practice exercise [5,6,18], and one study was on adult men and women (the study did not describe the training level of the volunteers) [4]. The use of a placebo END was reported in ten studies [5,6,13,18,19,[23][24][25][26][27] and in the others it was compared with the absence of the END [4,10,17,21,22,29,31].…”

“…A significant difference in VO 2 max when using the END was noted in five studies only, whereby one evaluated male triathletes [17], three studied adolescents of both sexes who regularly practice exercise [5,6,18], and one study was on adult men and women (the study did not describe the training level of the volunteers) [4]. The use of a placebo END was reported in ten studies [5,6,13,18,19,[23][24][25][26][27] and in the others it was compared with the absence of the END [4,10,17,21,22,29,31]. Eight studies evaluated men and women [4,5,13,22,24,26,27,31] and the others only assessed men.…”

External and internal nasal valve. Diagnostic and treatment methods for dysfunction

“…Авторы пришли к выводу, что использование ННР улучшает физическую выносливость и сокращает время восстановления спортсменов [27] . Немногочисленные исследования у спортсменов детского возраста подтверждают полезность ННР, применение которых приводит к уменьшению респираторных усилий и улучшению пиковых аэробных характеристик при максимальной физической нагрузке [28] .…”

External nasal dilators: definition, background, and current uses

“…We found only two studies carried out with children in which the researchers assessed END efficacy. Macfarlane and Fong 31 assessed 30 Chinese male athlete students with a mean age of 15.2±1.6 years. The subjects were randomized into six equal groups and analyzed under three situations: END, placebo, and control.…”