Respiratory and Real-Time Dynamics in Exercise-Induced Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion

Investigating Exercise-Induced Breathing Issues with a Wearable Device

R
Rita Patel, PhD

Primary Investigator

Enrolling By Invitation
18 years - 26 years
All
Phase N/A
150 participants needed
1 Location

Brief description of study

The purpose of this study is to determined the effectiveness of the new wearable neck device to accurately identify Exercise-Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO) in the field setting. Additionally, the purpose of this study is to identify the cause and changes in size of the face and the neck of EILO and determine which exercise is most beneficial for relieving EILO.

THIS STUDY IS ENROLLING BY INVITATION ONLY - Participants may be recruited from the following:  the IU Health Voice Center, clinical practices of the investigators, physician referrals, posting of study information at the EILO global forums, and other methods. For investigator-initiated methods, the potential subjects will be contacted via phone and/or email. 

Detailed description of study

The study requires three visits, approximately of 2.5 hours in duration. These visits will occur within 2 weeks of the first visit. For each subject, all testing sessions will be performed on three separate days.  Prior to each testing session, subjects will be asked to abstain from caffeine consumption for 12 hours.  Subjects will also be asked to avoid alcohol consumption for 24 hours before testing, be at least 4-hour post prandial and avoid high-intensity exercise during the 24 hours leading to the exercise testing.  

 

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions: Exercise-Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO)
  • Age: 18 years - 26 years
  • Gender: All

Inclusion Criteria for EILO
•    Physically active >2.5 hours per week
•    Patients with EILO, as diagnosed by routine clinical examination by physician and/or speech language pathologist
•    Age range of 18-26 years
•    Greater difficulty breathing inside compared to out and difficulty breathing which is exacerbated at peak exercise and stops 1-5 minutes after exercise
•    Score of 7 or higher on the Dyspnea Index, which is a validated instrument to capture participant self-report of upper airway dyspnea symptoms.
•    Classified as low risk, based on the modified PAR-Q questionnaire, BMI, and non-smoking status 
•    Negative history of voice disorders, self-report of cognitive difficulties, asthma or other lung disease, cardiac disease, serious orthopedic injuries, current uncontrolled hypertension, illicit drug use, seizure/epilepsy, claustrophobia, use of beta blockers.
•    No metallic, mechanical or magnetic implants such as cardiac devices, cochlear, or other non-removable ear implants, any prosthesis, stents, deep brain stimulator, etc.
 

Inclusion Criteria for Controls
•    Physically active >2.5 hours per week
•    Age range of 18-26 years
•    Classified as low risk, based on the modified PAR-Q questionnaire, BMI, and non-smoking status
•    Negative history of voice disorders, self-report of cognitive difficulties, asthma or other lung disease, cardiac disease, serious orthopedic injuries, current uncontrolled hypertension, illicit drug use, seizure/epilepsy, claustrophobia, use of beta blockers.
•    No metallic, mechanical or magnetic implants such as cardiac devices, cochlear, or other non-removable ear implants, any prosthesis, stents, deep brain stimulator, etc.
3.3    Exclusion Criteria for EILO
•    Individuals older than 26 years and younger than 18 years of age.

•    Women who are pregnant or could possibly be pregnant.

•    BMI > 25 kg/m2

•    A ‘yes’ answer to any of the 14 questions on the PAR-Q pre-participation questionnaire

•    Current smoker

•    Positive history of voice disorders, self-report of cognitive difficulties, asthma or other lung disease, cardiac disease, serious orthopedic injuries, current uncontrolled hypertension, illicit drug use, seizure/epilepsy, claustrophobia, use of beta blockers.
•    Presence of metallic, mechanical or magnetic implants such as cardiac devices, cochlear, or other non-removable ear implants, any prosthesis, stents, deep brain stimulator, etc.
•    Do not report the following: Greater difficulty breathing inside compared to out and difficulty breathing which is exacerbated at peak exercise and stops 1-5 minutes after exercise
 

Exclusion Criteria for Controls
•    Individuals older than 26 years and younger than 18 years of age.

•    Women who are pregnant or could possibly be pregnant.

•    BMI > 25 kg/m2

•    A ‘yes’ answer to any of the 14 questions on the PAR-Q pre-participation questionnaire

•    Current smoker

•    Positive history of voice disorders, self-report of cognitive difficulties, asthma or other lung disease, cardiac disease, serious orthopedic injuries, current uncontrolled hypertension, illicit drug use, seizure/epilepsy, claustrophobia, use of beta blockers.
•    Presence of metallic, mechanical or magnetic implants such as cardiac devices, cochlear, or other non-removable ear implants, any prosthesis, stents, deep brain stimulator, etc.
•    Significant acute or chronic medical, neurologic, or illness in the patient that, in the judgment of the Principal Investigator, could compromise subject safety, limit the ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study
The medical records will be reviewed by a physician for study elligbility. 

This study investigates exercise-induced paradoxical vocal fold motion, a condition where the vocal cords close instead of opening during breathing, causing difficulty in breathing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a wearable neck device designed to identify Exercise-Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO) in real-world settings. Participants will help researchers understand the cause and changes in the size of the face and neck related to EILO and determine which exercises might relieve the condition.

Participants will visit the study site three times, each visit lasting about 2.5 hours. During these visits, participants will undergo tests and will need to avoid caffeine for 12 hours and alcohol for 24 hours before each session. They will also need to avoid high-intensity exercise for 24 hours before testing. These precautions ensure accurate testing conditions.

  • Who can participate: Participants aged 18-26 who are physically active for more than 2.5 hours per week can join. They must have a low risk based on health questionnaires and no history of certain medical conditions.
  • Study details: Participants will be involved in a series of tests over three separate days. They must follow specific guidelines such as avoiding certain foods and activities before the tests to ensure accurate results.
  • Study visits: The study requires 3 visits.
Updated on 10 Jun 2026. Study ID: OTHN-IIR-EILO-ADULTS, 29009
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Interested in the study?

This study is accepting only persons who receive care at a certain clinic or doctor or who are part of an invited group. Questions about this study can be directed to the study team listed in the description or contact your doctor to see if you are eligible.

Accepting Referrals by Invitation Only