A case of frog breathing.

Frog breathing (glossopharyngeal breathing) is a useful technique employed to increase ventilation when respiratory muscles are paralysed. It is a technique used by many patients with chronic poliomyelitis, yet many chest physicians and physiotherapists are unfamiliar with this breathing maneuver. Glossopharyngeal breathing coordinates movements of the tongue, cheeks and pharynx to force air from the mouth into the lungs. We report a case of glossopharyngeal breathing, demonstrating a 3 fold increase in vital capacity in a subject with chronic poliomyelitis.