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I am guessing this is being posted in relation to the virus. Is this likely to be at all helpful? Is having a strong diaphragm useful when your lungs are fille

I am guessing this is being posted in relation to the virus. Is this likely to be at all helpful? Is having a strong diaphragm useful when your lungs are filled with fluid?

djtriptych 7y ago
It helps to oxygenate your body, which is (I'm guessing) pretty helpful if you're infected and are ever short of breath. Also these are generally exercises one can do at home.
randycupertino 7y ago
In respiratory therapy school we were taught some breathing exercises to teach patients who were graduating after being on a vent, had lung surgery following cancer, COPD and/or other pulmonary issues. Some of the trainers like the inspiratory and expiatory trainers have benefits to non-compromised patients - some athletes use them for training in sports like swimming and basketball. Maybe an MD will chime in, however in case not imo the diaphragmatic training is only beneficial for singers and yogis and others who need to do large diaphram style breaths. Most people will go back to their normal style of breathing even if they're trained and practice diaphragmatic breathing after they're done concentrating. If I had to recommend one thing to buy for a regular person to use, it would probably be a really simple inspiratory/expiratory trainer. Basically you inhale and blow through a hole and it strengthens your lungs. This one is low tech and bombproof, cheap, easy to disinfect and used a lot in the field: http://www.medi-careequipment.com/Catalog/Product/26832/Pflex-Inspiratory-Muscle-Trainer http://www.medi-careequipment.com/Catalog/Product/26832/Pfle... https://www.respiratorytherapyzone.com/best-breathing-exerciser-trainers/ https://www.respiratorytherapyzone.com/best-breathing-exerci...
- TheBlerch 7y ago
  Thanks for posting. I’ve done diaphragm breathing exercises for sports training and meditation. How does using these inspiratory/expiratory devices strengthen the lungs? Isn’t the action just strengthening primarily the diaphragm and some chest muscles used in breathing? How many minutes training per day would you recommend for healthy people? And how much does the Pflex sell for? Site makes you request to order and collects a lot of info.
  - randycupertino 7y ago
    Aww geeze, I knew someone was going to ask some followup questions and I'd be out of my depth! To be honest, I didn't practice in the field very long as an RT because I fell into hospital IT after my rotations and took to it like a duck to water and ended up really enjoying that as a career. I'm gonna refer you to this study which - you are right- does show the insp/exp trainers help to strengthen breathing muscles. So perhaps it's the equivalent of using weights at the gym vs just doing diaphragm breathing exercises. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316503/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316503/
DoreenMichele 7y ago
Breathing exercises are medically recommended for some very deadly lung conditions. For example: https://www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Airway-Clearance/ https://www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Ai...

I am guessing this is being posted in relation to the virus. Is this likely to be at all helpful? Is having a strong diaphragm useful when your lungs are filled with fluid?

djtriptych 7y ago

It helps to oxygenate your body, which is (I'm guessing) pretty helpful if you're infected and are ever short of breath. Also these are generally exercises one can do at home.

randycupertino 7y ago

In respiratory therapy school we were taught some breathing exercises to teach patients who were graduating after being on a vent, had lung surgery following cancer, COPD and/or other pulmonary issues. Some of the trainers like the inspiratory and expiatory trainers have benefits to non-compromised patients - some athletes use them for training in sports like swimming and basketball. Maybe an MD will chime in, however in case not imo the diaphragmatic training is only beneficial for singers and yogis and others who need to do large diaphram style breaths. Most people will go back to their normal style of breathing even if they're trained and practice diaphragmatic breathing after they're done concentrating. If I had to recommend one thing to buy for a regular person to use, it would probably be a really simple inspiratory/expiratory trainer. Basically you inhale and blow through a hole and it strengthens your lungs. This one is low tech and bombproof, cheap, easy to disinfect and used a lot in the field: http://www.medi-careequipment.com/Catalog/Product/26832/Pflex-Inspiratory-Muscle-Trainer http://www.medi-careequipment.com/Catalog/Product/26832/Pfle... https://www.respiratorytherapyzone.com/best-breathing-exerciser-trainers/ https://www.respiratorytherapyzone.com/best-breathing-exerci...

TheBlerch 7y ago
Thanks for posting. I’ve done diaphragm breathing exercises for sports training and meditation. How does using these inspiratory/expiratory devices strengthen the lungs? Isn’t the action just strengthening primarily the diaphragm and some chest muscles used in breathing? How many minutes training per day would you recommend for healthy people? And how much does the Pflex sell for? Site makes you request to order and collects a lot of info.
- randycupertino 7y ago
  Aww geeze, I knew someone was going to ask some followup questions and I'd be out of my depth! To be honest, I didn't practice in the field very long as an RT because I fell into hospital IT after my rotations and took to it like a duck to water and ended up really enjoying that as a career. I'm gonna refer you to this study which - you are right- does show the insp/exp trainers help to strengthen breathing muscles. So perhaps it's the equivalent of using weights at the gym vs just doing diaphragm breathing exercises. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316503/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316503/

DoreenMichele 7y ago

Breathing exercises are medically recommended for some very deadly lung conditions. For example: https://www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Airway-Clearance/ https://www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Ai...