Glossopharyngeal breathing

Glossopharyngeal breathing (GPB, also called frog breathing) is a means of forcing extra air into the lungs to expand the chest and achieve a functional cough. The technique involves the use of the glottis to add to an inspiratory effort by gulping boluses of air into the lungs. It can be beneficial for individuals with weak inspiratory muscles and no ability to breathe normally on their own.

The technique was first observed in the late 1940s in polio patients at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, in Los Angeles, by Dr Clarence W Dail and first described by Dr. Dail in 1951 in the journal California Medicine.

It is not commonly known today amongst physiotherapists and physical therapists.

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