FORUM   

Medicina dello Sport 2019 December;72(4):676-86

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.19.03384-2

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Effects of surgical correction of nasal septal deviation on aerobic performance

Tuba MELEKOĞLU ¹ ✉, Birgül ARSLAN ¹, Ayşen TÜRK ², Aslı BOSTANCI ³, Murat TURHAN ³

¹ Faculty of Sports Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey; ² Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey; ³ Antalya Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Antalya, Turkey

Maximal oxygen consumption is an important determinant of aerobic performance. Decreasing nasal cross-sectional area increases respiratory resistance and may result in respiratory fatigue so correction of posterior septal deformities increases the cross-sectional area of the nasal cavity significantly. Reducing nasal airway resistance may improve aerobic exercise capacity. The aim of this case report was to examine the effects of surgical treatment of septal deviation in aerobic performance and cardiopulmonary responses. A 25-year-old physically-active male with nasal septal deviation performed the aerobic performance test one week before and two months after septoplasty. The running time, and cardiopulmonary parameters recorded to assess and interpret aerobic exercise performance. Levels of daytime sleepiness and perceived nasal obstruction were monitored via the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale, respectively. Acoustic rhinometry was used to evaluate the cross-sectional areas, and volumes of the nasal cavity. After septoplasty, ESS and NOSE scale points decreased (from 7 to 2 and 65 to 5, respectively) with an increase in cross-sectional area of the nasal cavity. The maximal running time increased and the test stage was maintained with decreased heart rate and oxygen consumption at all stages of the incremental aerobic test. The results suggest that septoplasty may improve aerobic performance by increasing work economy. In our case, septoplasty reduced the heart rate, ventilation, and maximal oxygen consumption during an incremental workload. Our results may be useful for sports professionals with nasal obstruction to improve aerobic performance and decrease the cost of ventilation.

KEY WORDS: Nasal surgical procedures; Athletic performance; Oxygen consumption; Respiratory mechanics