Equalization Academy main topics:

Organs involved in the equalization

Middle ear Eustachian Tubes Glottis Soft Palate Tongue

Airshift Techniques

Abdominal Contraction Reverse Packing

Equalization Techniques

Valsalva Frenzel Advanced Frenzel Sequential Frenzel (Mouthfill NON constant pressure) Handsfree (VTO/BTV) Mouthfill (constant pressure)

Dry Skills

Otovent Protocol Ballon Protocol EQ-Tool Water Pipe

Airshift Techniques - only for Freedivers

The term shifting indicates the movement of a certain amount of air from the lungs to the oral cavity. Load, instead, refers to the amount of air that is stored in the oral and nasal cavity after air shifting. For example, the air between the tongue and the palate (N load, that will be used in this course for the execution of the Traditional Frenzel maneuver) or in the cheeks (M load, used in advanced courses for the Sequential Frenzel and Mouthfill maneuvers).
There are two Airshift techniques:
1. Abdominal Contraction
In an Abdominal Contraction, the air is pushed upwards from the lungs.
2. Reverse Packing
In Reverse Packing, air is sucked from the lungs.

Equalization Techniques

There are various equalization techniques, in other words maneuvers that allow to open the Eustachian tube, open communication between the nasal cavity and the middle ear, and balance the latter's pressure and volume.

Valsalva

(Flight & Chamber - Divers)

This equalization technique is based on abdominal contraction which generates reduction of volume and increase of pressure within the lungs. The glottis is open, which means that the same pressure increase will take place into the oral cavity, which is closed through your lips tightened or your tongue in close contact with the palate. The soft palate is open, which means that the same pressure increase will occur in the nasal cavity, which is closed through your nose being pinched. Thanks to the increase of pressure within the nasal cavity, your tubes will open and you will be able to equalize the decrease of volume and pressure of the middle ear, caused by the increase of ambient pressure during the descent.

Traditional Frenzel

(Flight & Chamber - Divers - Freedivers)

This equalization technique requires you to move the air within your oral cavity by pushing your tongue towards the top and the back; this will generate both a volume decrease and pressure increase, with Glottis closed. The soft palate is open, meaning the same pressure increase will take place in the nasal cavity, which is closed through your nose being pinched. Thanks to the increase of pressure within the nasal cavity, your tubes will open and you will be able to equalize the decrease of volume and pressure of the middle ear, caused by the increase of ambient pressure during the descent. Some people might be able to open the tubes, thanks to a mechanical effect: this might allow the tubes to open at a lower pressure.

Advanced Frenzel

(Freedivers)

This equalization technique requires you, at a given depth, to move the air within your oral cavity by saying the letter N and keeping the back of your tongue on a lower position in order to increase the volume of the oral cavity. Having done that, you will be able to generate both a volume decrease and pressure increase, just moving your tongue from T position to Ka and then H, while the Glottis remains closed. The soft palate is open, meaning that the same pressure increase will take place into the nasal cavity, which is closed through your nose being pinched. Thanks to the increase of pressure within the nasal cavity, your tubes will open and you will be able to equalize the decrease of volume and pressure of the middle ear, caused by the increase of ambient pressure during the descent. Some people might be able to open the tubes, thanks to a mechanical effect: this might allow the tubes to open at a lower pressure. This technique can be practiced with a series of pressure increases, or with just one light continuous movement that keeps the tubes open and equalization pressure constant.

Sequential Frenzel

(Freedivers)

This equalization technique requires you, at a given depth, to move the air within your oral cavity by saying the letter M; this way you will store up the air in your cheeks in order to maximize the volume of your oral cavity, and you push your tongue towards the top and the back in order to generate both a volume reduction and a pressure increase, with your Glottis closed. The soft palate is open, meaning that the same pressure increase will take place into the nasal cavity, which is closed through your nose being pinched. Thanks to the increase of pressure within the nasal cavity, your tubes will open and you will be able to equalize the decrease of volume and pressure of the middle ear, caused by the increase of ambient pressure during the descent. Some people might be able to open the tubes, thanks to a mechanical effect: this might allow the tubes to open at a lower pressure.

Hands Free

(Flight & Chamber - Divers - Freedivers)

This equalization techniques requires you to close your Glottis, after moving the air within the oral cavity, with the soft palate open. The mechanical opening of the tubes will allow you to automatically equalize the decrease of volume and pressure of the middle ear, provoked by the increase of ambient pressure during the descent. The Handsfree technique can be combined with the above-mentioned ones (Advanced Frenzel, Sequential Frenzel and Mouthfill).

Mouthfill

(Freedivers)

This equalization technique requires you, at a given depth, to move the air within your oral cavity by spelling the letter M; meanwhile, you will blow up your cheeks, you will open your lower jaw and you will lower the back of your tongue, in order to maximize the volume of your oral cavity. With the lower jaw closed, the push of your cheeks and you tongue from T position to Ca and then H will allow a volume decrease, also thanks to a light and continuous overpressure till the air within the oral cavity is finished, Glottis closed. The soft palate is open, meaning that the same pressure increase will take place into the nasal cavity, which is closed through your nose being pinched. Thanks to the increase of pressure within the nasal cavity, your tubes will open and you will be able to equalize the decrease of volume and pressure of the middle ear, caused by the increase of ambient pressure during the descent. Some people might be able to open the tubes, thanks to a mechanical effect: this might allow the tubes to open at a lower pressure.