Helping Young Athletes Breathe Better: How Functional Airway Lab Supports Adolescents

At Functional Airway Lab, we regularly work with adolescents who are struggling with their breathing. Some are high-level athletes who notice their breathing feels off during competition. Others feel like they can’t catch their breath during practice, no matter how hard they train. Some have already received a diagnosis of EILO (exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction) or breathing pattern disorder, while others are still searching for answers after years of being passed from provider to provider.

At Functional Airway Lab, we assess what’s actually happening — and offer targeted breathing retraining strategies that help.

Common Reasons Adolescent Athletes Come To Us

Breathing difficulties during exercise or sport. Many of the adolescents we work with are competitive athletes who train hard and perform at a high level. When breathing becomes the limiting factor — not fitness — it’s a sign that something functional is going on. Throat tightness, noisy breathing at peak effort, and breathlessness that doesn’t respond to inhalers are all red flags for EILO or breathing pattern disorder.

Unexplained breathlessness. Some adolescents feel breathless during relatively low-intensity activity — or even at rest. When their medical workup comes back normal, the issue is often a dysfunctional breathing pattern that has developed over time and become their new normal.

Breathing linked to anxiety or stress. Fast, shallow, upper-chest breathing can become a self-reinforcing cycle — the more anxious someone feels, the more dysregulated their breathing becomes, which in turn worsens the anxiety. Addressing the breathing pattern directly is often one of the most effective ways to break that loop.

EILO misdiagnosed as asthma. EILO is frequently mistaken for exercise-induced asthma. If your athlete has been prescribed inhalers that aren’t helping, EILO may be worth exploring. The two conditions can look similar on the surface but require very different treatment approaches.

What Breathing Retraining for Adolescents Involves

Every adolescent we work with receives an individualized plan built around their symptoms, sport, schedule, and goals. Here’s what that might include:

EILO Management. EILO — sometimes called paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) or vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) — is common in adolescent athletes, particularly those competing at a high level. We assess breathing under exertional load, evaluate sport-specific posture and mechanics, and teach techniques that reduce throat tightness and restore airflow during high-effort activity.

Breathing Pattern Retraining. We assess how your adolescent breathes — looking at the role of the diaphragm, the use of upper chest and neck muscles, breathing rate and rhythm, and whether they’re breathing through their nose or mouth. From there, we build a more efficient, relaxed breathing pattern that supports performance rather than limiting it.

Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) Support. For adolescents managing EIB alongside EILO or breathing pattern disorder, we work in parallel with their medical team to address the functional component of their breathing through retraining — complementing, not replacing, medical management.

Sport Specific Training. Breathing retraining isn’t one-size-fits-all. We tie technique to the specific demands of your sport — whether that’s swimming, track, soccer, or something else — so that improved breathing becomes something they can access in competition.

Why Treating Adolescents Is Different

The clinical approach to breathing retraining is similar across age groups, but how we deliver it matters a lot. Teenagers respond best when they understand the why behind their symptoms — not just the what to do. We explain the anatomy and physiology in plain terms, connect the work directly to their athletic goals, and give them strategies they can actually use in the moment.

Parents also play an important role. We make sure families understand what’s happening, what the plan is, and how to support practice between sessions.

Why This Is Worth Addressing Early

Breathing difficulties in adolescents are often dismissed as anxiety, deconditioning, or simply “being out of shape.” But many of these young athletes have real, identifiable dysfunctions that can be addressed — and the sooner they are, the better.

Left unaddressed, poor breathing patterns tend to become more entrenched. Athletes compensate, develop secondary tension in the neck and shoulders, begin avoiding high-intensity effort, and sometimes quit their sport altogether — not because they lack ability, but because breathing is getting in the way.

Ready to Get Started?

If your teenager is struggling with their breathing during sport, we’d love to connect.

Functional Airway Lab offers a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss your adolescent’s symptoms and help you figure out whether we’re the right fit. In-person sessions are available in Ventura, CA or nearby locations. Telehealth sessions are available throughout California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada.

Contact Functional Airway Lab today:

 (805) 754-7768
 functionalairwaylab.com

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This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, please consult a qualified healthcare provider.