Effects of Regular Aerobic with Nasal Breathing Exercise Training on Olfactory Rehabilitation in Asthmatic Patients with Chronic Rhino Sinusitis

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 trainingon olfactory rehabilitation in asthmatic patients with CRS. 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. 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). 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.