Abstract
The aim of the present work was to analyse the alterations of rhino-sinusal physiology in 106 professional athletes (swimmers, skiers, boxers and runners) using objective rhinological methods. Every athlete underwent an accurate anamnesis, a complete objective ORL evaluation, an active anterior rhinomanometry, an acoustic rhinometry and an evaluation of mucociliary transport time (MCTt). Skiers were also submitted to a nasal decongestion test (NDT). In swimmers, the mean MCTt was 27.4±4.97 min (normal value: 13±3 min; P<0.0001). The average MCTt for the skier group was 19.58±1.92 min (P<0.0001); the mean value of total basal nasal resistance was 0.37±0.05 Pa/ml per s (normal value =0.25 Pa/ml per s; P<0.001). After NDT, total nasal resistance was 0.18±0.02 Pa/ml per s. In the group of boxers, the total mean nasal resistance was 0.64±0.05 Pa/ml per s (P<0.001); the mean cross-sectional area at the nasal valve level was 0.57±0.04 cm2 (normal value =0.55±0.05 cm2) and at the inferior turbinate level 0.83±0.05 cm2 (normal value =0.4±0.04 cm2; P<0.001); the TMC average time was 27.35±2.21 min (P<0.0001). Finally, for the runners, the mean MCT time was 20.56±2.35 min (P<0.001). Knowing the alterations of the physiological nasal respiration is of extreme importance to develop a correct and timely therapeutic approach to be able to restore rhino-sinusal homeostasis. Athletes, in fact, need the earliest therapeutic aid in order to avoid the interference of prolonged rhino-sinusal alterations with their performance and also to avoid a more serious clinical situation concerning the inferior airways.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Potts J (1996) Factors associated with respiratory problems in swimmers. Sport Med 21:256–261
Brobnik F, Frexia A, Casan P, Sanchis J, Guardino X (1996) Assessment of chlorine exposure in swimmers during training. Med Sci Sport Exerc 28:271–274
Aggazzotti G, Fantuzzi G, Righi E, Tartoni P, Cassinandri T, Predieri G (1993) Chloroform in alveolar air of individuals attending indoor swimming pools. Arch Envir Health 48:250–254
Benninger MS (1994) Nasal mucociliary transport after exposure to swimming pool water. Am J Rhinol 8:207–212
Silvers WS (1991) The skier’s nose: a model of cold-induced rhinorrea. Ann Allergy 67:32–36
Croce G, Croce A (1987) Nasal trauma in boxers: pathogenesis and treatment. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 7:185–194
Olson LG, Strohl KP (1987) The response of the nasal airway to exercise. Am Rev Respir Dis 135:356–360
Forsyth RD, Cole P, Shephard RJ (1983) Exercise and nasal patency. J Appl Physiol Respirat Environ Exerc Physiol 55:860–867
Slavin RG (1994) Sinopulmonary relationships. Am J Otolaryngol 15:18–25
Varghese BT, Murthy PSN, Rajan RB (2000) Clinico-pathological correlation between allergic rhinitis and asthma. J Laryngol Otol 114:354–358
Passàli D, Bellussi L, Bianchini Ciampoli M, De Seta E (1984) Our experience in nasal mucociliary transport time determination. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 97:319–322
Lavorgna G, Russo A, Ambrosio A, Alterio F, Dell’Acquila A (1995) I traumi dello scheletro nasale nella pratica pugilistica. Minerva Chir 50:895–899
Benninger MS, Sarpa RJ, Ansari T, Ward J (1992) Nasal patency, aerobic capacity and athletic performance. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 107:101–109
Ferrara A, Di Girolamo S, Passali D (1994) Rhinobronchial syndrome. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 14 [Suppl 43]:47–55
Samolinski B, Szczesnowicz-Dabrowska P (2002) Relationship between inflammation of upper and lower respiratory airways. Otolaryngol Pol 56:49–55
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Passàli, D., Damiani, V., Passàli, G.C. et al. Alterations in rhinosinusal homeostasis in a sportive population: our experience with 106 athletes. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 261, 502–506 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-003-0723-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-003-0723-7