The tape on the nose and the Vicks VapoRub on the chest: Remedies for Carlos Alcaraz or pure placebo?

From the warm-up, a pink band on the nose, and with each step on the bench, menthol ointment, Vicks VapoRub, on the chest. The remedies of Carlos Alcaraz To combat respiratory problems caused by colds, they seem to work. In the end, with them he defeated Andrey Rublev on Wednesday and this Friday before Alexander Zverev (2:00 p.m., Movistar) can qualify for the semifinals of the ATP Finals. Maybe it will end up depending on what happens in the subsequent meeting between Rublev and Casper Ruud (8:30 p.m., Movistar), but in principle with a victory – more so if it is two sets – he has many options.

In any case, during the match, thanks to the nasal dilator and its mentholated bottle, he will not be short of breath and will be able to run and run in the exchanges with the German. In theory, the two products open your airways, from your nose to your chest, and your body appreciates it, but… What if they are just placebos? In the case of both menthol ointment and nasal tape, there is no scientific evidence to support their use in sports and even less to indicate an improvement in performance. If they help it is because Alcaraz believes they help and that is already important.

«There are no studies that support their physiological effects, but they can be used because they have no contraindications and serve as moral reinforcement. When we talk about the placebo effect, we talk about placebo, but also about an effect. If it helps Alcaraz, go ahead,” he says. Pedro L. Valenzueladoctor in Health Sciences, researcher at the University of Alcalá (UAH) and editor of the magazine Fissac, which has already collected all the papers referring to both remedies.

“The dilator does not show increases”

In the case of nasal dilators, the first analyzes indicating that they do not provide “any benefit” in performance date back to 1995, but in 2020 the debate on their functionality was closed. Then, six researchers from the Brazilian Federal University of Minas Gerais analyzed the 624 studies completed on the tape around the world and came to an unequivocal conclusion: “The external nasal dilator does not show an increase in the maximum amount of oxygen, nor in the frequency heart rate or rate of perceived exertion.

«In fact, in recent years this external nasal band was believed to be outdated and all the studies focused on analyzing the Turbine internal dilator that became fashionable among cyclists. I used it Chris FroomeFor example. It was thought that this did have benefits, but they were not found either,” says Valenzuela with doubts about the menthol ointment as well.

A subjective relief

Because thousands of people – especially children – have used VapoRub to relieve the stress caused by the mucus caused by a cold, but its use in competition is not very scientific. As with nasal dilators, Alcaraz is not the first athlete to use them and in fact last year Real Madrid footballers such as Jude Bellingham o Vinicius They appeared in several games with menthol ointment sprayed on their chests. But that doesn’t mean it’s effective. A 2009 study from the American Wake Forest University and another from 2016 in which there was even a researcher from Procter & Gamble concluded that relief is subjective.

The smell may cause a sensation of freshness, but little else. «The only benefit that is really proven occurs in circumstances of extreme heat. That freshness provided by menthol reduces hot flashes and slightly helps athletes,” says Valenzuela, who goes further into the matter. The nasal dilator and Vicks VapoRub do not help to capture more oxygen, but even if they did, it would not be effective either.

“They have plenty of lung capacity”

What is important for performance is the amount of oxygen in the lungs if not the ability to metabolize that oxygen. «It is normal for athletes to take in more air than they can use, they have plenty of lung capacity. They are like cars with a tank of more than 100 liters of gasoline, but what really defines them is the engine,” concludes the researcher, who reaffirms the placebo effect.

Alcaraz has had a cold for more than a week and has improved his management. On Monday, in his debut at the ATP Finals against Ruud, he appeared overwhelmed, gripped by such uncomfortable snot. On Wednesday, against Rublev, however, he focused on his game and won. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, the band on the nose and the Vicks VapoRub came in handy. If they help it is because Alcaraz believes they help.