Abstract

The use of nasal dilatators with the aim to facilitate breathing during exercise has considerable popularity among athletes in training and competition. The purpose of this study was to analyse its efficiency in a muscular endurance test during simulated breaststroke swimming using an isokinetics bench. Seven triathletes performed two progressive tests (9 min) with three load stages. In one occasion they performed the test wearing the nasal dilatator and in the other one they performed the test without the nasal dilatator. During both tests oxygen uptake, heart rate and ventilation were registered. Results showed slight but significant (p < 0,05) reductions of oxygen uptake (between –1,58 to –2,53 ml/kg·min) and ventilation (between –2,42 and –16,05 l/min) when using the nasal dilatator. On the other hand, heart rate did not change significantly. The use of nasal dilatator reduced slightly the energy cost of the performance of a breaststroke test in dry land training, however its magnitude is small and its practical advantages during exercise appear to be minimal.