Effect of regular physical exercise on resting nasal resistance

This study was conducted to determine (1) if long-term regular training changes resting nasal resistance in humans and (2) if the changes are related to the structural component or mucosal component of nasal resistance.

We used a case-control study to compare a group of 16 athletes to 15 sedentary people of similar age. Nasal resistance was measured by computerized head-out body plethysmograph posterior rhinometry. Physical activity was evaluated by the Baecke questionnaire.

The p values (t-test) were very significant for the Baecke sports and total scores (p < .0001) but not for the other variables: age, untreated nasal resistances, decongested nasal resistances, and Baecke work and leisure scores. There were no significant correlations between nasal resistances and indexes of physical activity in all subjects (Pearson's correlation coefficient). The subjects with extremely low and high sports and total scores were paired and studied with the Signed test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. No significant relationship was found between the nasal resistances and the Baecke scores.

Resting nasal resistances in a group of endurance-trained athletes are identical to those found in a group of sedentary individuals, and this relationship stands for both the structural and mucosal components of nasal resistance. A new study of the same parameters is warranted to follow a cohort of sedentary subjects as they enroll in a physical training program.