It is not uncommon to see players with oxygen masks on the sidelines at Mile High. Are the masks pressurized such that they really do deliver more oxygen?
Tom Derderian wrote: > For athletes the extra oxygen is useless. For example when we inhale air it > is about 21% oxygen. When we exhale, no matter how fast we run, only about 3 > or 4% of oxygen is missing, used up in the body. The limit to our > performance is not the amount of oxygen available at normal pressure, but > the ability of our cells to use it. Our bodies have to play an delicate > dance to supply us with only the amount of oxygen we can use and no extra > because that would float around in the cells reacting and raising metabolic > havoc. > > Tom Derderian, Greater Boston Track Club > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dan Kaplan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 10:43 PM > Subject: Re: t-and-f: oxygen masks > > > I've always assumed it's "richer" air, i.e. higher concentration of > > oxygen. If that's the case, and if it really works, then players wouldn't > > need to be on the sideline as long to recharge. Unless you're running a > > two-man relay in track, there isn't nearly the same need to get your wind > > back in a timely fashion. > > > > Dan > > > > --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > ...just something I'm curious about after watching > > > college and pro football for another weekend... > > > > > > After multiple long runs, a running back or wide receiver > > > or kick returner will go over to the sideline and take > > > long drags from an oxygen mask. > > > > > > It's become pretty much an expected thing. > > > Also, late in the game when one team's defense has > > > spent a LOT of time on the field and they are pooped, > > > the entire defensive line can be seen sitting on the > > > bench, sucking on oxygen masks in unison! :) > > > That's become pretty much a joke- literally "sucking > > > air". > > > > > > My question is- do oxygen masks on football sidelines > > > really ACCOMPLISH anything? > > > Can't players get just as much air just by bothering > > > to breathe? Or there some kind of 'happy air' being > > > pumped through those masks? > > > > > > Track athletes exert a heck of a lot more, but I > > > don't see rows and rows of oxygen masks just past > > > the finish line of the men's 10K at the World Championships, > > > for all the finishers to jump on. > > > > > > Are oxygen masks some kind of 'old football coaches tale' > > > that has become gospel in the sport of football, but > > > don't really do anything (except the placebo effect) ? > > > > > > ...just wondered.... > > > > > > RT > > > > > > > > > ===== > > http://AbleDesign.com - Web Design & Custom Programming > > http://Run-Down.com - 10,000 Running Links, Fantasy T&F > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > @ o Dan Kaplan - [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > <|\/ <^- ( [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] ) > > _/ \ \/\ (503)370-9969 phone/fax > > / / > > > > __________________________________ > > Do you Yahoo!? > > Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software > > http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
