barotrauma

The result of an inability to equalize pressures between the environment and an air-filled area of the body.  This can happen in air (such as ear discomfort and ear drum injury when planes descend or ascend) or in water (such as injuries to lung tissues or middle ears when scuba diving). Barotrauma typically occurs at much lower pressures than shock wave related blast injuries and can generally be prevented by processes (changing depth, altitude, releasing gases) that equilibrate pressures as needed.