Better Breathing Blog by PowerLung

Although the CDC recommends 2.5 hours of aerobic activity and 2 days of strength training per week, you certainly don’t have to spend that time in a gym or in only 2-3 hardcore workouts. In fact, exercise can be defined as any activity that elevates your heart rate. You don’t have to wear expensive workout clothing or buy specialized equipment to participate. There are many activities you participate in every day which can be considered exercise!

This time of year, many people are considering resolutions, and looking for ways to improve their lives. From weight loss to eating more natural foods, from reducing screen time to improving organization, optimism is high as new habits are formed. Many people look for ways to improve health, and even slow down the aging process. One area that is simply overlooked, and even easier to care for, is the respiratory system.

Respiratory Muscle Training is a program for better breathing, which can benefit individuals with a wide variety of needs. More efficient breathing provides lasting benefits to all types of individuals, from athletes to musicians, and those suffering from respiratory disease or simple reduction in lung function due to age and inactivity. Each of these types of users have unique needs and are looking for various levels of training. PowerLung has designed its respiratory muscle training devices to suit each of these types of users, to fit their lung training needs.

For many elite athletes, improving the respiratory system through lung training has become an important part of training for their specific sport. Additionally, those with a variety of chronic lung diseases (like asthma or COPD) understand the importance of respiratory strength, and may look for ways to increase their lung function. Studies have consistently proven that respiratory muscle training (RMT) has a resounding effect on breathing. For athletes in all different sports, comfort level is raised, endurance is increased, and breathing patterns are improved.

Perhaps you have recently discovered that better breathing can improve your health, and that respiratory muscle training can increase your athletic ability. Or, you have been advised that a respiratory muscle training device can increase your respiratory capabilities while suffering from asthma, Parkinson's, COPD, or the cycle of inactivity, all which lead to breathlessness. After searching through the variety of devices available on the market, you have chosen PowerLung. This respiratory muscle training device expands your respiratory capability (and your health), so you want to utilize it effectively. PowerLung wants you to find success with your device, and have designed training programs to help you maximize your use through the stages you will experience while increasing respiratory muscle strength with the PowerLung.

Lack of respiratory muscle strength is the primary reason your respiratory system is unable to meet your body's needs during physical exertion. Additionally, some medical conditions exacerbate respiratory muscle weakness, causing sleep disturbances and dyspnea. However, the respiratory trainer market does have several options, and it may be difficult to distinguish the differences between various products available. When choosing a respiratory muscle training device, look to PowerLung, a device designed to train all muscles involved in breathing, easy to use and with a host of additional benefits.

It is commonly understood that using Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT), a series of exercises and breathing techniques to increase strength and endurance of respiratory muscles, will improve breathing (and subsequently, respiration) during periods of exercise. However, understanding the science behind RMT is important to better utilize the techniques to benefit respiration and endurance.

For those in the healthcare profession, and especially those working with patients who may benefit from respiratory training, a respiratory training device can be a useful tool.

When considering adding respiratory muscle training to an athlete’s training regimen, one may ask if any true benefit has been found. Although it has been proven beneficial to COPD patients, there have been mixed reports in the past regarding hyperpnea (technique for improving endurance respiratory muscle function) training. Variations in study types, methods and protocol could be factors in the mixed results. Athletes and their trainers are looking for tools which can truly improve performance, and studies specific to their gender, sport and level of competition are in demand.

When you consider ways in which you can train your body for better health, you might think of weight lifting, running, swimming, bicycling or a variety of aerobic workouts. However, have you considered training your respiratory system?

The respiratory muscles are a unique system because they are constantly working, without any real voluntary thinking. Because of this fact, many people—including premier athletes—believe that they need no formal training, nor can there be any benefit to doing so. However, the fact that athletes can perform for longer periods of time without fatigue is proof that cardiovascular training is beneficial to health.