PERFORMANCE AND RECOVERY EFFECTS OF BREATHE RIGHT NASAL STRIPS DURING A SIMULATED HOCKEY PERIOD

Abstract

1769 The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a Breathe Right Nasal Strip (BRNS) on the performance and recovery of Division I Collegiate ice hockey players (N=8) during a simulated ice hockey period. Subjects were tested with and without BRNS (counterbalanced) on separate days. Acoustic rhinometry was used to assess cross sectional area of the nose with and without a BRNS. Two simulated hockey periods separated by 15 min rest required each subject to perform two sets of six repeated shifts of 30-40s. skating bursts around a multiple directional course and a ≈120s. rest. Resting HR and RPE were recorded at the end each 150 second shift. During the 2nd, 4th, and 6th shift, blood lactate (LA) via finger stick was sampled. Time to complete each of the skating bursts was also recorded. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated ANOVA. Blood LA responses for the skating shifts and the recovery periods were all lower for the BRNS condition [F(3, 42)=40.79, P<.0001]. Mean skating times with the BRNS were faster than the skating trials without a BRNS [F(5,70)=19.89, P<0001] For 1st period data the correlation between the difference in nasal cross-sectional area and the trial times while wearing a BRNS was high [r=.91, p. <.003]. Difficulty with adhesion of the BRMS during the 2nd period prevented further correlational analyses. Skating time and LA data clearly lend support to the notion that Division I hockey players may benefit from using a BRNS to aid in overall performance and speed recovery.