Today Ammonia Inhalants (AIs) are used to enhance performance in sports competition and workouts involving heavy resistance training sets. AI use is widespread among athletes and power lifters all over the world to gain a competitive edge during performance. AIs are most commonly used to increase muscular strength for a short period of time and to increase cognitive consciousness.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of ammonia inhalants on Wingate performance. The hypothesis was that ammonia inhalants would increase the performance of short-term anaerobic exercise (Wingate).
METHODS: Nine male participants were recruited from the University. Participants had previous resistance training experience characterized by the ability to perform a bench press with 1 times their body weight and squat 1.5 times their body weight. Each participant completed an approved informed consent document before testing. The test involved performing a Wingate anaerobic test (with 7.5% body weight) on a cycle ergometer after inhaling one of three substances. Participants completed a 5 minute warm-up then immediately before beginning the test the participant would inhale one of three, randomly chosen substances for two seconds (Ammonia inhalant, Control 1 (Vicks Vapor Rub), Control 2 (no substance)). After 48 hours rest, the participants returned and would perform the same procedure except inhaling one of the other two substances. After another 48 hour period the participant would return to perform the final procedure.
RESULTS: A One-way ANOVA showed there were no significant differences in Peak Power (p=.985), Peak power per kg (p=.955), Mean power (p=.944), Mean power per kg, (p=.642), Power drop (p=.743) or Power drop per kg (p=.360).
CONCLUSION: Based on these preliminary findings, ammonia inhalants do not effect anaerobic exercise performance. These results are consistent with other performance effects currently in the literature. As this project continues and a larger sample size is tested more conclusive findings may become evident.
