Is Valsalva Dangerous?

[frogx345]

I'm starting freediving and already have an acceptable breath hold time so I'm concentrating on equalizing. I can do the Valsalva method very easily already and it causes no pain to me, though I read somewhere that the Valsalva method of equalization can cause injury.

Is this true at any depth or just below a certain depth? I would like to know this because my goal right now is just to get 10-15 meters down and if I can use this method for now it would be helpful until I learn Frenzel or BTV.

 

[TheDude]

10-15 meters is ok with Valsalva. You should switch to using Frenzel when you get closer to your lungs residual volume depth.

But keep in mind that Frenzel is generally better even in shallow depths, because it utilizes less energy, and it can be gentler on your ears. It is very well worth learning even if you just do shallow dives.

 

[trux]

Frenzel is indeed simpler, quicker, more efficient, and possibly more precise (reducing so the risk of "overdoing" the equalizing and hurting your ear). And in fact, I found that most people learn doing Frenzel intuitively without even trying to, and without realizing it. It is quite natural, so if you dive since a while, it comes automatically. I experienced frequently friends who were persuaded they equalize with Valsalva, and wanted to learn Frenzel, but were in fact already doing it quite correctly without knowing about it.

You can verify it relatively easily even dry - simply pinch your nose, empty your lungs as much as you can (you can add some negative packs) and then try equalizing. If you can do it without any big hassle, you are very likely doing Frenzel.

 

[frogx345]

I think I might be getting Frenzel! Right after I read your post I tried it again and it didn't work
right away, but the second and third times it seemed to work!

When I was doing the Valsalva technique before I felt like I was holding my nose and blowing into my nose. Then when I thought I did Frenzel I held my nose and when I compressed my cheeks and moved back my tongue my ears just popped. Before When I attempted Frenzel I concentrated so much on keeping the epiglottis closed and trying to gain control of the soft pallet, but when I tried now I just closed my mouth and compressed my cheeks (not thinking about the other stuff) and my ears popped!

I'll keep working on it and try it underwater the next time I get a chance.

 

[Newbie_spearo]

10-15 meters is ok with Valsalva. You should switch to using Frenzel when you get closer to your lungs residual volume depth.

How do you know what your lungs residual volume depth is? I have a print out of my residual volume some where I think, I got it tested at uni.

 

[TheDude]

Its pretty simple mathematics - you have to know your total lung volume and divide it by your residual volume. This gives you the pressure in bar at which your lung would be compressed to the residual volume. From this pressure you easily get the depth.

Lets say your total is 8L, residual 2L, the ratio is 8/2 = 4, pressure 4 bar is at 30m. So your residual volume depth would be 30m.