Upper Airway Conditions Affecting the Equine Athlete

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Upper airway abnormalities can significantly impair athletic performance.
• Resting endoscopic evaluation is standard but may miss dynamic issues.
• Patient history of noise or performance limitations may not align with resting findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of exercise endoscopy for diagnosing dynamic upper airway abnormalities.
• To emphasize the role of head and neck positioning in endoscopic evaluation.
• To provide insights into treatments and prognoses for upper airway dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing resting endoscopic evaluation to identify static upper airway abnormalities.
• Performing exercise-induced endoscopic evaluation to detect dynamic airway issues.
• Reproducing specific head and neck positions during clinical examination to simulate performance conditions.

Main Results:

• Resting endoscopy reveals static upper airway obstructions.
• Exercise endoscopy uncovers dynamic airway collapse not evident at rest.
• Correct positioning during examination is key to defining the extent of abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Exercise endoscopy is essential when resting findings do not explain performance limitations.
• Accurate diagnosis of upper airway abnormalities requires dynamic assessment and precise positioning.
• Understanding these factors guides effective treatment and improves prognosis.