At Functional Airway Lab, we believe breathing should support performance — not stand in its way.
Founded by Karie Marsh, SLPD, CCC-SLP, Functional Airway Lab provides specialized breathing rehabilitation for athletes experiencing EILO, also called vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) or paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM), breathing pattern disorders, and other exercise-related breathing difficulties.
Our approach combines clinical expertise in speech-language pathology with specialized breathing training to help athletes understand their breathing, develop greater control, and build confidence when exercise gets hard.
Whether you've been diagnosed with EILO, VCD, or PVFM — or you've simply been told that your breathing "isn't normal" during exercise—we're here to help you understand what's happening and determine the next step.
You don't have to accept that struggling to breathe is simply part of your sport.
Welcome to Functional Airway Lab
MEET the founder
one of the few clinicians who combines two disciplines.
Effective treatment of EILO and breathing pattern disorder benefits from an approach that combines speech-language pathology expertise with functional breathing retraining. Very few clinicians offer both.
As a licensed speech-language pathologist and certified functional breathing instructor, Karie built Functional Airway Lab specifically to close this gap. Every patient is assessed and treated individually.
Karie Marsh, SLPD, CCC-SLP
Exercise should challenge your
body — not your ability to breathe.
If you experience any of the following during activity, it may indicate an underlying breathing issue such as exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction — not asthma.
Shortness of breath that comes on quickly during high-intensity exercise
A feeling of tightness or restriction in the throat or upper chest
Noisy breathing (gasping, stridor, or high-pitched sounds)
Difficulty getting air in, rather than out
Symptoms that resolve quickly after stopping exercise
Limited response or no improvement with inhalers
Feeling like your breathing is the limiting factor—not your fitness
Needing to stop or slow down due to breathing discomfort
You’re not alone — and more importantly, this is treatable.
With the right evaluation and targeted breathing intervention, these symptoms can be effectively addressed to restore confidence and performance.
Do You Recognize These Symptoms?
Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction
A breathing disorder in which the larynx narrows inappropriately during exercise, often causing sudden difficulty getting air in, throat tightness, or noisy breathing. EILO can be mistaken for asthma and may occur alone or alongside other breathing conditions. Also called vocal cord dysfunction or paradoxical vocal fold motion.
Conditions we Work With
Breathing Pattern Disorder
An inefficient or disrupted breathing pattern that can contribute to breathlessness, exercise intolerance, excessive breathing effort, and difficulty regulating breathing during activity. Breathing pattern disorders may occur alongside EILO or other respiratory conditions.
Exercise-Related Breathing Symptoms
Breathing difficulty during exercise can have multiple causes, including EILO, asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), breathing pattern disorder, or combinations of these conditions. We focus on identifying breathing patterns and upper-airway contributors and collaborate with medical providers when additional evaluation is needed.
Who we work with
Built for athletes who Can't get a straight answer
Some athletes spend months or years treating breathing symptoms as asthma before discovering that EILO, VCD, breathing pattern disorder, or another condition may also be contributing. We specialize in exactly this gap — from middle school through elite level.
Middle & high school athletes
collegiate athletes
elite & competitive athletes
endurance athletes
team sport athletes
1 / 4
Words cannot express the gratitude I have for Karie and the amazing work she has done with my daughter. My daughter had been diagnosed with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO), and, as a national caliber runner, this was very distressing to deal with - her performances were being affected, and the stakes felt high with her dreams of running at a D1 program in college. We had already been to a speech pathologist, which had been helpful, but still left my daughter with many symptoms to deal with, especially during intense training sessions. The difference between the first speech pathologist and Karie was night and day. Karie is at the forefront of research and took a cutting-edge and innovative approach with my daughter. She is also a great educator and takes the time to explain the diagnosis and her methods, which made the process very approachable for my daughter. The results were remarkable! My daughter improved rapidly, ran all of her races with zero breathing issues, and had amazing performances to match! She is in control of her symptoms now and no longer fears hard workouts or races, knowing she has the tools she needs. I can't thank Karie enough - she helped my daughter bring back her joy and confidence in running and life as an athlete!
Client Outcomes
2/4
I began to see Karie after experiencing some difficulties when training to swim distance butterfly. My throat would feel like it was closing, and I learned from Karie that I needed to strengthen my breathing. She gave me exercises to practice, and we met online every week to check on my progress. Gradually, I would get the throat-closing feeling less often, and I stopped having to cough during butterfly. I could finally build stamina properly. Within a couple of months I was able to qualify for age group state championships for 200 fly. Without Karie, I wouldn’t have been able to swim a distance that far without struggling. Now, I can swim confidently without the risk of aggravating my throat. Karie has been extremely kind, patient, and understanding, and her help means so much to me!
Client Outcomes
3/4
For years, I experienced shortness of breath while running. I was initially diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma, but my symptoms did not resolve with the use of my rescue inhaler. When I learned more about the symptoms of EILO, I realized this is likely what I was dealing with. After working with Karie for a few weeks, I saw a significant change in my symptoms. I was no longer straining to breathe during my workouts. I am so grateful for Karie's patience and guidance. She helped me to return to running with confidence and a renewed passion.
Client Outcomes
4/4
I've had an incredible experience working with Karie. Before starting, I didn't realize how my breathing was holding me back, especially while running. One of the biggest breakthroughs for me was re-establishing nasal breathing. At first, it felt challenging, but with consistent practice and Karie's coaching, it became more natural, and the impact on my performance was huge. My tempo runs feel smoother, more controlled, and overall much easier than before. Karie has a great way of explaining the techniques and making them practical to apply in real training situations. I've not only seen improvements in performance, but in how calm and efficient my breathing feels day-to-day. I highly recommend Karie to anyone looking to improve their endurance, breathing efficiency, and performance.
Client Outcomes
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Frequently asked questions
Functional Airway Lab specializes in exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and breathing pattern disorder (BPD). These conditions are often misdiagnosed or co-occur. Our assessments are designed to identify exactly what's happening with your breathing and why.
Quite possibly. EILO and breathing pattern disorders often mimic asthma — especially in athletes. If your symptoms occur at peak exertion, affect your ability to breathe in (rather than out), and resolve quickly after stopping, it's worth a conversation. A complimentary 15-minute phone consultation is a good first step.
Treatment begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment of your breathing mechanics, symptom patterns, and airway behavior during exercise. From there, we build a structured, individualized plan that progresses from foundational breathing skills to sport-specific intensity.
Both. We work with athletes from middle school through elite and adult competitive levels. EILO and breathing pattern disorders affect athletes of all ages and in all sports. The treatment principles are the same, adapted to your training environment and goals.
Yes. Functional Airway Lab offers both in-person sessions in Ventura, CA, and virtual telehealth sessions. Many athletes work with us entirely online and we have clients throughout several states.
Functional Airway Lab is a private-pay practice and does not accept insurance at this time. This allows us to spend more time with each client and make clinical decisions based on your needs rather than insurance requirements. It also allows us to meet athletes at sport-specific locations when needed or requested,
Start with a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. You'll describe what's happening during exercise, ask any questions you have, and get a clearer sense of whether Functional Airway Lab is the right fit — with no commitment required.
Describe what's happening during exercise — when it started, what you've already tried, and ask any questions you may have.
Get Initial Clarity
Discuss your symptoms
Understand next steps
Whether that's booking an evaluation, getting a referral, or pursuing diagnostic testing — you will get a more clear direction.
Karie will help you understand whether your symptoms align with EILO, breathing pattern disorder, or another condition.
Educational Library
Contact
Services
About
Home
Pages
Contact
4532 Telephone Rd.
Suite 114
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 754-7768
karie@functionalairwaylab.com
EILO/VCD
Licensed to Provide telepractice SPeech Pathology Services in California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon
Telepractice