Do nasal strips really help let more oxygen through your nostrils? Are they only effective for long events like the 5k and 10k or can they help out with events as short as the 800m or the 600m? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
Do nasal strips really help let more oxygen through your nostrils? Are they only effective for long events like the 5k and 10k or can they help out with events as short as the 800m or the 600m? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
Maybe, but you assuredly already get more than enough oxygen through your nostrils and mouth, the variable that you should worry about is how to get more of that oxygen into the bloodstream and to your working muscles more effeciently.
Studies have shown there are no significant differences/changes in performance when you wear one. They don't work, not sure about the placebo effect for individuals though.
I've posted my comment on the nasal strip before since I used to work there. There actually has been a clinical study done on the device and performance. Yes, there's NO significant improvement in performance but what they found out is that you can perform the same intensity of exercise at slightly lower heart rate. You interpret what that means.
I always tell people to wear one and go for a run; take it off half way through and see the difference. You really can't tell the difference when you put it on; but when you take it off, you can really tell the difference. By the way, they NEVER say it increases the air flow or oxygen intake. Correct statement is that it "decreases the air flow resistance by 30%".
As for shorter distances, I always thought its greatest contribution would be middle distance; from 400m though 5000m, because you need to work more vigorously to get oxygen. I see sometimes sprinters wear that in Japan. The Asian 400m champion right now, an 18-year-old who ran the relay at Helsinki this summer, wears it.