Sports, exercise, and breathing
Optimum performance asks three things of the breathing system:
- A usable supply of oxygen and a sensible release of carbon dioxide
- An efficient muscular pump so the ribcage and trunk can move with you
- A way back to physiological calm so the next session is not built on a poor recovery
People often arrive with chest tightness or throat restriction in training, a sense they cannot get air in, a plateau in performance, a label of exercise-induced asthma or EILO, slow recovery, or having to stop play to get the breath back.
EILO (exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction) can mimic asthma. It is often felt in the throat rather than the chest, can make a noise on the way in, comes on at high effort, and does not behave like asthma medication. It can coexist with asthma. Assessment matters before more inhaler is added.
Treatment may include:
- Baseline pattern assessment and capnography
- Retraining mechanics, then respiratory muscle work (POWERBreathe is essentially load for the diaphragm)
- Recovery breathing