Managing Dysfunctional Breathing and Exercise-induced Laryngeal Obstruction in Adolescent Athletes

VID Specialized University18 enrolled

Overview

This study aimed to assess if a multidimensional individually tailored intervention, including Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy (NPMP), elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and a rehabilitation plan, helped reduce inspiratory distress and dysfunctional breathing in adolescent athletes with EILO. A mixed methods design, which combined qualitative and quantitative research, was used. Data, including subjective experiences of respiratory distress, findings from NPMP body examinations and objective measurements of lung function and aerobic capacity were gathered before and after a five month intervention involving 18 participants.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO)

Interventions

The intervention consisted predominantly of Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy (NPMP) in which participants received individually tailored treatment based on the body examination and reported respiratory distress. NPMP addresses bodily tension, postural de-alignments and dysfunctional breathing patterns. The consultations also included a cognitive dimension, that is a conversation, in which thoughts and behaviours about training and competing were addressed and where participants were provided with "self help" measures that could improve breathing during training and competing. A rehabilitation plan for each participant was designed to limit further impairments and maintaining aerobic capacity without intensifying EILO symptoms. The intervention lasted 5 months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Subjective experiences of respiratory distress associated with exercise reported descriptively in an interview pre and post treatment

Experiences of respiratory distress were explored through a history taking and in an qualitative interview based on a questionnaire developed by O. Roksund (2012) Larynx in exercising humans - the unexplored bottleneck of the airways. University of Bergen Norway (PhD thesis). The questionnaire is not developed for research purposes, and reliability and validity studies are lacking. It is however, functional as a basis for the pre and post interview in which respiratory distress was explored and is commonly used for the same purpose at Haukeland University hospital in Norway. The reporting was descriptive and qualitative, and no scale or scores were used.

Time frame: Five months