Effects of nasal irrigation on athletes' breathing during exercise

Effect of Isotonic Seawater Solution on Nasal Patency in Athletes: an Interventional Randomized Prospective Cohort Study

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice · NCT05948800

This study tests if using a seawater nasal spray can help healthy athletes breathe better during exercise.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 40 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice Academic / other
Locations1 site (Zagreb)
Trial IDNCT05948800 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the impact of nasal irrigation using an isotonic seawater solution on nasal airflow and obstruction in healthy athletes. Fifty participants aged 18 to 35 will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group using the nasal spray or a control group without it. The primary outcomes will be measured using a peak nasal inspiratory flow meter and a questionnaire assessing nasal obstruction symptoms before and after exercise. The goal is to determine if nasal irrigation can improve breathing performance during physical activity.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adult athletes aged 18 to 35 who do not have any significant nasal obstructions or recent nasal surgeries.

Not a fit: Patients with bacterial or viral upper respiratory infections, chronic nasal obstructions, or recent nasal surgeries may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could enhance athletic performance by improving nasal airflow and reducing obstruction during exercise.

How similar studies have performed: While similar studies on nasal irrigation have been conducted, this specific approach focusing on athletic performance is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 50 healthy adult athletes between the ages of 18 and 35 will be engaged in the research (power analysis with 80% power and an alpha error of 5% shows that 32 subjects in two groups are sufficient).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Bacterial or viral acute inflammation of the upper respiratory system, chronic obstruction of one or both nostrils with significant deformation of the septum, surgery on the nose or nasal septum within one month of the start of the study

Where this trial is running

Zagreb

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Nasal ObstructionNasal Diseasenasal irrigationisotonic solutionNOSE questionnairePeak Inspiratory Nasal FlowExcercise
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.