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When it comes to the world of professional sports, athletes are constantly exploring innovative methods to gain that elusive edge over their competition. Whether it's refining their training routines, embracing cutting-edge technology, or even adopting unconventional techniques, the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds. The recent spotlight on tennis sensation Iga Swiatek's training regimen during the Canadian Open has left fans and experts intrigued. The Polish tennis player was seen wearing tape over her mouth, sparking discussions about the potential benefits of this performance-enhancing tool.
This is something that I coach here at The Breath Coach. Whilst taping the mouth in this way has its benefits during training I would recommend a less dramatic method of intermittent hypoxic hypercapnic training (IHHT) in a controlled environment where data, feedback, and hydration can be managed better. This would have greater benefits for Iga and I suggest this is a great PR stunt rather than a scientifically advanced way of training her respiratory system to enhance performance.
The sight of Iga Swiatek practicing with tape over her mouth during the training sessions leading up to the Canadian Open has left many intrigued. This unconventional practice, known as "mouth taping," involves gently sealing the lips using 3M micropore medical tape. While it might seem peculiar at first glance, there is a method to the madness, and it ties into a range of potential performance-enhancing benefits.
At the heart of mouth-taping lies the science of nasal breathing. The human body is designed to breathe through the nose, which acts as a natural filtration system for the air entering the respiratory system.
There are over 30 functions of the nose in accordance with breathing and only one for the mouth: to get more air in the lungs when we metabolically require it during training and competition. Nasal breathing not only warms and humidifies the air before it reaches the lungs but also enhances the body's oxygen uptake efficiency through the use of nitric oxide (NO) and increased levels of CO2 in the arterial blood (See
The Bohr Effect and The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve (ODC). This is where the performance-enhancing potential of mouth-taping comes into play. Other benefits include the conservation of moisture to help prevent dehydration, reduction of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, and increased recovery.
By sealing the mouth during training, athletes like Swiatek are encouraged to breathe exclusively through their noses. This has the potential to optimize oxygen utilization during physical exertion, thereby enhancing endurance, delaying fatigue, and improving overall athletic performance. The concept revolves around the Bohr Effect and that nasal breathing maximises oxygen transfer to the working cells and muscles, aiding in better energy production and delivery.
Nasal breathing isn't a new concept in the world of sports performance. Athletes and coaches have long recognised its potential benefits. Nasal breathing has been linked to improved oxygen saturation, increased lactate thresholds, reduced stress levels, and enhanced respiratory efficiency. By adopting the practice of nasal breathing, athletes can optimise their breathing patterns to improve performance, become more efficient, maintain a more balanced physiological state including focus and decision-making, speed up recovery, and potentially achieve greater athletic success.
For a player of Iga Swiatek's caliber, even the slightest improvement in performance can make a world of difference. As she prepares for tournaments like the Canadian Open, her training regimen is meticulously designed to give her the edge she needs. The adoption of mouth taping to harness the benefits of nasal breathing during her training sessions is one to be commended and is not only a publicity stunt. However, training her breathing could be done in a much smarter way.
James Nestor, author of Breath, The New Science of A Lost Art commented on the subject with this quote:
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." -- Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860).
James has long been an advocate of nasal breathing along with expert Patrick McKeown of The Oxygen Advantage and is suggesting that finally, people are taking note of breathing as a performance-enhancing tool.
As a breathing coach who understands the benefits a structured breathing program provides athletes, I was excited to see Iga wearing the tape so openly which has started a debate about breathing as a training modality. At the Breath Coach, I’m excited at what this dramatic act of Iga Swiatek has provided our breathing world.
