Definition
A technique used to equalize pressure between the middle ear and the surrounding atmosphere by closing the mouth, pinching the nostrils shut, and gently blowing as if to exhale through the nose. This forces air up the eustachian tube into the middle ear, balancing the pressure on either side of the eardrum.
Plain English
A way to clear your ears when pressure changes during climbs and descents. You pinch your nose, close your mouth, and gently blow — that pushes air into your ears and relieves the pressure.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter this term when learning about ear pain or pressure changes during climb and descent.
Derivation
Named after Antonio Maria Valsalva, a 17th–18th century Italian anatomist who studied the ear and described this technique. Knowing the name comes from a person, not a Latin root, helps explain why the term sounds unusual — it is simply someone's name attached to the procedure they described.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents ear pain, blockage, or barotrauma when cabin pressure changes rapidly during ascent and descent.
Grounding Statement
Picture descending in an airplane, feeling pressure build in your ears, then gently using this technique to let the pressure even out.
Intuition Check
Do not treat this as a hard blow or a strength test. The aviation meaning is a gentle pressure-equalizing action for the ears.
Example Sentence 1
On the descent into the airport, the pilot performed a Valsalva maneuver every few hundred feet to keep her ears clear.
Example Sentence 2
If your ears feel blocked after takeoff, use the Valsalva maneuver gently rather than forcing it.