Globus sensation – Most often the muscle is tense.
Globus sensation is very often based on increased tension in the muscles that hold the larynx. We like to call this discomfort the “tennis elbow of the neck”. Some report a feeling like a cramp in the throat. One muscle that is particularly important in connection with globus sensation is the constrictor pharyngis muscle, also called the “gullet lace.” Moreover, this muscle can be described as a very “emotional” muscle, because when suppressing emotions such as sadness, anger or fear, which would be expressed in crying or screaming, for example, there is a tightening of this muscle in particular. Tightness of these muscles can result in the vocal folds not being able to vibrate loosely and freely, and the voice not responding – as a reaction, throat clearing occurs to “force” the use of the voice. A muscle that is misused or overloaded is usually more tense even at rest.
This tension can cause an altered perception and a foreign body sensation (globus!) in the pharynx. This leads to tension and in turn to an even stronger increase in the foreign body sensation – a vicious circle!
