title: Reduced active protection to the cochlea during physical exercise.
abstract: The present investigation was designed to evaluate whether dynamic physical exercise is able to modify stapedius reflex (SR) activity and, as a consequence, to influence the amount of temporary threshold shift (TTS). Experimental subjects were 10 normal-hearing male volunteers, aged 27-34 years (mean 30.8). SR parameters in the time-domain were assessed before, during and after submaximal exercise test, performed for 10 min on an ergometer cycle at 50% of maximum work capacity. The same parameters were also investigated in the absence of exercise, at time-matched intervals. In addition, the combined effect of noise and exercise was studied. The outcome of the investigation indicates that dynamic physical exercise depresses the SR and potentiates noise-induced TTS. The mechanisms underlying the present findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colletti
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Fiorino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verlato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montresor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001305:Auditory Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic / Q000502:physiology*; D013198:Stapedius / Q000502:physiology*