A forcible attempt to breathe out when the airway is closed.
The manoeuvre occurs naturally when an attempt is made to breathe out while holding the vocal cords tightly together.
This happens, for example, at the beginning of a sneeze.
When performed deliberately by pinching the nose and holding the mouth closed, the manoeuvre can prevent pressure damage to the eardrums (see barotrauma).
an attempt by a person to exhale forcibly with a closed glottis while pinching the nose and keeping the mouth closed, so that no air exits through the mouth or nose, as when straining during a bowel movement or lifting a heavy weight. The resulting increased pressure transplants air through the Eustachian tube, thus equalizing the negative pressure in the middle ear. This manoeuvre can often relieve the ear pain associated with flying, which is usually associated with changes in pressure particularly occurring during takeoff and landing. [A. M. Valsalva (1666–1723), Italian anatomist]
A first-aid treatment for choking. The sole aim of the Heimlich manoeuvre is to dislodge the material that is causing the blockage by placing one fist, covered by the other, just below the victim’s rib cage, and pulling sharply inwards and upwards to give an abdominal thrust.... heimlich manoeuvre
a test for *congenital dislocation of the hip that detects whether or not a hip can be readily dislocated. With the baby lying supine and the pelvis steadied with one hand, the hip being tested is gently adducted and backward pressure is applied to the head of the femur. If the hip is dislocatable, a clunk will be felt and sometimes heard (Von Rosen’s sign). If the hip is gently abducted, it will usually relocate. [T. Barlow (1845–1945), British physician]... barlow manoeuvre
a method for *reduction of an anteriorly dislocated shoulder by manipulation. Longitudinal traction is applied to the elbow, pulling down the shoulder, then the forearm, bent at the elbow, is externally rotated to 90°. [E. T. Kocher (1841–1917), Swiss surgeon]... kocher manoeuvre
an internal rotational manoeuvre to facilitate delivery in cases of *shoulder dystocia that have not responded to other measures. Using the fingertips of both hands, pressure is applied from behind the anterior shoulder and in front of the posterior shoulder. [C. E. Woods (20th century), US obstetrician]... woods’ screw manoeuvre