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Abstract
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Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is the most common cause of smell
loss and has a strong association with asthma. Breathing exercise training has
been known to be an effective treatment for decreasing asthma symptoms.
However, its effect on the olfactory disorder in asthmatic patients with CRS
is unknown. This research aimed to investigate the effects of regular aerobic
with nasal breathing exercise training on olfactory rehabilitation in asthmatic
patients with CRS.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, thirty-five inactive asthmatic women
with CRS and olfaction disorder (mean age=34.7±7.5 years) were selected and
grouped into experimental (n=18) and control (n=17) groups. The experimental
group participated in an aerobic and breathing exercise program (60 min/day,
three days a week), and the control group refrained from participating in regular
exercise for 12 weeks. Self-rated olfactory acuity and function questionnaires
were used to assess changes in exercise-induced olfactory acuity and function.
Results: After 12 weeks, the exercise group improved smell function (P=0.002)
and exhibited significantly increased acuity in smelling the odor of gas
(P=0.019) compared with the control group. BMI decreased (P=0.019) and
forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1( increased (P=0.002) significantly
in the exercise group. There was a negative relationship between mean change in
BMI and mean change in acuity in smelling the odor of gas (r=-0.381, P=0.024).
Conclusion: According to the self-report olfactory acuity and function
questionnaires, the improvement in the smell function of asthmatic patients
with chronic sinusitis after 12 weeks of regular aerobic with nasal breathing
exercise was promising and should be studied further.
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