What is it about?
This retrospective study looked at the results of a holistic therapy approach for athletes with breathing problems due to abnormal closing of the vocal cords, which results in not being able to get enough air in during exertion. This disorder is more commonly known by the public as vocal cord dysfunction (VCD); however, the term exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) is becoming more recognized by professionals. There is also growing evidence that athletes with EILO may have dysfunctional breathing. The approach describes addressing the whole person by treating the physical, intellectual, and emotional (P.I.E.) aspects of breathing to optimize oxygenation throughout the body and reduce dysfunctional breathing. Patients were given three validated measures before and after therapy. On the post-therapy scores, 81.7-100% of the patients scored in the normal range, depending on the outcome measure given.
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Why is it important?
Unlike previous EILO studies using therapy techniques that focus primarily on opening the vocal cords, this study uses a holistic, hands-on approach to reduce/eliminate EILO symptoms by focusing on dysfunctional breathing. In addition to breathing more easily through the vocal cords, this approach, allows the patient to experience breathing strategies during significant exertion while simulating sports activities in therapy sessions, expand the patient’s understanding of the role of breathing awareness and sensations, and increase mindfulness of the relationship between emotions and breathing.
Perspectives
I took an intensive course on breathing physiology and dysfunctional breathing, that opened my eyes to applying the principles of respiratory physiology to treat EILO/VCD patients. I became interested in trying to get to the root of the problem, rather than just treating the symptoms. I also received in-depth training on myofascial release techniques which also greatly contributed to the patient’s progress. One thing lead to another, and I realized the importance of treating the whole person. Fortunately, I was collecting the before and after data over many years, which gave me the opportunity to write this retrospective study.
Sharon Frank
Speech and Voice Therapy Center, LLC
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Treatment Outcomes Following a Holistic Breathing Approach for Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, September 2025, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2025_persp-25-00038.
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