- Health. They reveal an unknown medicine that could protect people suffering from heart disease
- Psychology Sex. The speed at which you walk could determine how much love you feel for your partner, study suggests
Carlos Alcaraz is one of the best tennis players today. His game, his young age and his charisma are all part of the great sportsman that he is. However, there is one detail that has caught the attention in recent months in relation to Alcaraz, and that is the use of nasal strips.
These have become very popular in recent years, claiming to improve the performance of athletes and highlighting their multiple benefits. However, is this really the case? Experts have spoken out on this trend.
Do they really improve performance?
Elite athletes are constantly looking for methods to help them achieve their goals. In this search, they may find some methods that are very effective and others that are innocuous. But which side are nasal strips on?
Nasal strips are small devices that adhere to the outside of the nose and go from one nostril to the other. What they mainly do is open both nostrils and improve the flow of air in and out, helping to make breathing more fluid.
In relation to breathing, they are effective. However, they would not be particularly useful for improving performance. They are not so beneficial in relation to oxygen consumption or ventilation. It is important to note that it is not harmful, just innocuous if the aim is to improve sports performance.
What aspects are they useful for?
Although nasal strips have not been shown to be beneficial in improving physiological performance or increasing oxygen consumption capacity, they may be useful in other areas.
The strips open the orifices and help improve respiratory comfort. And these remain open, reducing congestion, which is especially useful at times of exertion, in dry environments or in places with high altitude.
In addition, athletes often feel that the air flows better when they wear them. This may be true, but it also corresponds to the possible placebo effect that these can generate in the individual who uses them. Experts point out that although they do not improve the overall performance of a high-level athlete, they can be useful in certain contexts. For example, they can be especially beneficial when the effort is prolonged or the environmental conditions are adverse.
That Carlos Alcaraz, like other athletes, uses them is normal. The greater the external help to improve the comfort of the athlete, the better their performance can be, although the methods do not directly affect the improvement of such performance