The Role of Nasal Breathing for Perfomance in Elite Athletes.

This study investigates the contribution of nasal breathing to the performance during aerobic and anaerobic heavy exercise in 12 male elite cyclists. In a ramp test on a mechanically braked cycle ergometer (Monark LT2, Varberg, Sweden) VO2 max, heart rate, respiratory frequency, intranasal geometry and nasal airflow resitance as well as blood lactate and glucose was measured at each step of the ramp test and after a maximum exhaust test. Nasal breathing was randomized to three sepratae tests, normal open nose, decongested nose with oxymetazoline 0.5mg/ml, 2 sprays each nostril and with a nose clip. The study showed that in the test with the nose clip, mean blood lactate was significantly lower.