Clearly the capacity of every group of muscles affects the way the athlete's whole body performs in the various exertions involved in sporting activity. Although it is the skeletal muscles that produce body movements during the performance of any activity, the ventilatory muscles are critical in ventilating the lungs to provide sufficient oxygen and to remove metabolic waste gases, especially carbon dioxide. To a considerable extent, the functional capacity and fatigue of the ventilatory muscles act as a limiting factor in the performance of exercise. Therefore, by optimizing how the ventilatory muscles function, athletes can significantly improve their performance, particularly in endurance events. What is more, it has been proven that the specific training of the inspiratory muscles is beneficial in increasing overall respiratory capacity, because it facilitates the intake of air into the lungs, and decreases resulting fatigue. The research group has developed a novel hypoallergenic sticking plaster/band-aid which restricts the flow of air entering the lungs through the nose. When breathing is thus made artificially difficult, this forces the ventilatory muscles to work harder so that, as a result, pulmonary capacity is significantly increased. The product consists of a piece of hypoallergenic fabric of porous structure. It is the pores in the material that restrict the ventilatory air flow. Depending on the characteristics of the fabric, particularly the density and size of the pores, it is possible to design different versions of the sticking plaster with different restriction and filtering features. Moreover, the product has been designed to be really comfortable, easy to use, and disposable: on the inner surface and sides, the sticking plaster incorporates an adhesive layer for fastening it over the user's nose. Furthermore, the sort of fabric used in this design makes it feasible to impregnate or coat the surface with medication for the treatment of people with respiratory problems. The sticking plaster must be applied so that it covers the nostrils completely, in order to regulate and filter the intake of air.

Innovative Aspects:
- The sticking plaster enables the ventilating muscles to be strengthened, during daily activities, in physical training such as aerobics, and even while at rest.
- It is supplied in three grades of air flow restriction (low, medium and high) which depends on the porosity of the sticking plaster fabric. This allows the user to regulate air intake.
- This sticking plaster gives added-value to the aerobic capacity of training. Therefore, it is especially suitable for athletes as a complement to their regular endurance training.
- It also filters the air during breathing, which is beneficial for people living in polluted environments or for those with respiratory problems (allergies, asthma, etc.).
- Medication can be incorporated into the structure of the sticking plaster for the treatment of people with respiratory diseases. The medicine enters the patient's lungs during breathing.

 

Patents/Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted

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