Features of glossopharyngeal breathing in breath-hold divers

Abstract

One technique employed by competitive breath-hold divers to increase diving depth is to hyperinflate the lungs with glossopharyngeal breathing (GPB). Our aim was to assess the relationship between measured volume and pressure changes due to GPB. Seven healthy male breath-hold divers, age 33 (8) [mean (SD)] years were recruited. Subjects performed baseline body plethysmography (TLC(PRE)). Plethysmography and mouth relaxation pressure were recorded immediately following a maximal GPB maneuver at total lung capacity (TLC) (TLC(GPB)) and within 5 min after the final GPB maneuver (TLC(POST)). Mean TLC increased from TLC(PRE) to TLC(GPB) by 1.95 (0.66) liters and vital capacity (VC) by 1.92 (0.56) liters (P < 0.0001), with no change in residual volume. There was an increase in TLC(POST) compared with TLC(PRE) of 0.16 liters (0.14) (P < 0.02). Mean mouth relaxation pressure at TLC(GPB) was 65 (19) cmH(2)O and was highly correlated with the percent increase in TLC (R = 0.96). Breath-hold divers achieve substantial increases in measured lung volumes using GPB primarily from increasing VC. Approximately one-third of the additional air was accommodated by air compression.

The air hunger response of four elite breath-hold divers

“…The divers all reported to us that they hyperventilate for at least two minutes; PET CO 2 of 15 Torr has been observed in these divers (Ferrigno et al, personal communication). The divers also reported they distend their lungs beyond TLC through glossopharyngeal inspirations (Lindholm and Nyren 2005;Seccombe et al 2006;Loring et al 2007); this provides some additional O 2 reserve, and presumably stimulates pulmonary stretch receptors. Lung volume was controlled throughout our present study, so divers were unable to take large breaths and achieve relief from air hunger.…”

Lung perfusion and chest wall configuration is altered by glossopharyngeal breathing

“…Glossopharyngeal breathing, a pump-like action involving the glossopharyngeal structures and larynx that forces air into the airways [1], was originally developed as a therapeutic technique for neuromuscular patients to help expand tidal volume and cough effectiveness [2,3]. The increase in expired lung volume above baseline total lung capacity (TLC) using glossopharyngeal breathing is achieved by a combination of an increase in the Euclidian size of the lung and gas compression [4,5]. Participants refer to this technique as lung packing; however this is described in the literature as glossopharyngeal insufflation (GI) [1,5,6].…”

“…In keeping with these observations, adverse neurological symptoms (e.g. presyncopal episodes and light-headedness) have been associated with this manoeuvre [6,8] and are seen at the peak of GI rather than after a long breath-hold suggesting that these are related to a circulatory effect rather than hypoxia or hypercapnia.In selected individuals, the increase in expired lung volume above baseline TLC using GI can be as much as 3 L [4,5]. It has been estimated that ,30% of the additional entrained air can be attributed to gas compression [4,5], with the remainder being an effect of an increase in the Euclidian size of the lung.…”

“…In selected individuals, the increase in expired lung volume above baseline TLC using GI can be as much as 3 L [4,5]. It has been estimated that ,30% of the additional entrained air can be attributed to gas compression [4,5], with the remainder being an effect of an increase in the Euclidian size of the lung.…”

“…It has been estimated that ,30% of the additional entrained air can be attributed to gas compression [4,5], with the remainder being an effect of an increase in the Euclidian size of the lung. While some of this increase could be from displacement of structures within the thorax (heart, vessels or oesophagus) most of the increase may be related to the change in the configuration of the chest wall and diaphragm.…”