Effect of Odor Stimulations on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Fewer and fewer people are reaching physical activity recommendations. Therefore, it seems important to make the practice of physical activity more enjoyable to increase the participation rate. Several environmental factors have been studied to see their impact on sports practice, and some studies investigated the effect of odors. This systematic review aims to provide a thorough view of the literature on the effect of different odors on physical activity. The search strategy consisted of using index terms and keywords in MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science search engine. Data from 19 studies that included 421 participants revealed that the odors had different results on strength, cardiovascular, precision, and postural balance tasks depending on the odors' exposition. Among results, an important distinction was made between pleasant and unpleasant odors. Therefore, pleasant odors had better results on physical activity by improving participants' feeling. Even though this review clarified evidence about the effect of odors on physical activity, better methodological consistency is needed across studies such as the odor administration method to produce more meaningful results.

The association between parameters of physical activity and olfactory function—the importance of frequency and moderate intensity

“…As mentioned in the introduction, it is theoretically possible that smell reduction may contribute to, or be a marker of, subsequent reduced PA levels. In addition, a recent systematic review conducted by our group highlighted that odor exposure in most cases acutely improves PA performance ( 30 ). If performance is improved, this could theoretically help to maintain PA levels, and therefore the reduction in smell could reduce PA levels.…”