Vocal Cord Dysfunction Breathing Exercises

Use these breathing techniques at any sign of tightness or stridor/noisy breathing.

If this occurs during activity, stop activity, do exercise until it stops and then resume activity gradually.

Remember

• Tightness or stridor can be released by breathing exercises
  
  
• Do exercises easily – don’t push shoulders or chest
  
  
  • Concentrate on letting air in and out
    
    
• Go into new activities and sports gradually

Diaphragmatic breathing exercises

• Do 10 cycles X3
  
  
• Practice 2-3 times per day, lying down and sitting up & standing
  
  
• Concentrate on deep diaphragmatic breathing; relaxation of the entire upper body; and increased breath capacity
  
  
• Practice in a quiet environment to help encourage focus
  
  
• Have adult supervision until child can practice with ease on their own
  
  
• Once good breathing practice is established, practice more frequently throughout the day
  
  
• Review your “mental checklist” during breathing exercises

1. 1. Are my face, jaw, tongue relaxed?
      
      
   2. Is my throat open and relaxed?
      
      
   3. Are my shoulders relaxed and not moving?
      
      
   4. Is my chest relaxed and not moving?
      
      
   5. Is my diaphragm doing all the work: moving out for inhalation and in for exhalation?

• Is my breathing rate slow and rhythmic?
  
  
• Is my breath full and relaxed (can count to 2 seconds on inhalation and 4-5 seconds on exhalation)

Swallow-breathe technique

• Swallow followed by exhalation and initiation of diaphragmatic breathing. Do 10 full cycles of inhale/exhale.
  
  
• Continue with multiple cycles if needed, until the vocal cord dysfunction goes away.
  
  
• If a vocal cord dysfunction event refuses to be suppressed with this technique, analyze the problem more fully and consult medical assistance, if needed.

Relaxed throat breath

• Do 5 of these relaxed throat breaths in the morning, at noon, before bedtime, before medications, as needed.
  
  
• Hand on abdomen (above the belt or both) when needed
  
  
• Inhale into abdomen- abdomen comes out
  
  
• Exhale from abdomen-abdomen comes in
  
  
• Inhale with relaxed throat:
  
  
  • Tongue on floor of mouth
    
    
  • Lips gently closed
    
    
  • Jaw gently released
    
    
• Exhale

Monitor fluid intake

• Drink 6 to 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day. Increase fluid intake beyond this when actively participating in exercise.