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Hi All,
I was reading through Song and Wind the other day and came across this term, but I'm not quite sure what it means.
The books states: "The most common cause of a constricted air flow is pressurization of the air in the body. To block the pressurized air from the embouchure, either the throat is closed or the tongue is used. The blockage can cause pressure to build up in the lower respiratory system as in relation to Bernoulli's law. This can cause pelvic pressure syndrome."
The book leaves it there and never really explains all that it entails.
So,I'm wondering what exactly Pelvic Pressure Syndrome is.
Anybody know or have an idea where I might find the information I'm looking for?
Best-
Austin Comerford

Google it and all references seem to be for women being afflicted. I haven't found any other reference to playing an instrument. Interesting.

That description, specifically "block the pressurized air from the embouchure, either the throat or tongue is used", sounds a lot like the Valsalva Maneuver. If so, this issue does affect a lot a brass players, I wrote my dissertation on the subject.

Earlier in the book-

Uses of the Respiratory System

The most common use of the respiratory system's musculature is to exchange gasses, a requirement to sustain life. This is only one of three phenomena of life supported by the musculature of the respiratory system.

The second use is for the contraction of the muscles in isometric opposition where muscles become rigid. This is useful for sports or combat, but not in playing a wind instrument.

About the final use of the respiratory system, Jacobs says, "I learned more about the lungs not by studying wind for playing my instrument, the tuba, singing, or trumpet playing, but by studying defecation and childbirth—the study of what happens with breath pressure."

The pelvic pressure syndrome uses the respiratory musculature for both childbirth and defecation. Abdominal muscles bear down, increasing internal air pressure. The throat closes to contain the pressure [the Valsalva maneuver]. Inside the body, air is under considerable pressure, far more than required to play a wind instrument.