POWERbreathe Classic Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT) – Light Resistance

​POWERbreathe Classic IMT (Light Resistance) uses a variable load calibrated spring, calibrated to a Light Resistance. It can be adjusted from the lowest load setting (10 cmH2O) when you begin training and increased as your breathing muscles adapt and become stronger (maximum load setting 90 cmH2O).

The POWERbreathe Classic inspiratory muscle breathing trainers are designed to strengthen your inspiratory muscles and improve breathing stamina. They create a resistance to your in-breath using a precisely calibrated, spring loaded ‘pressure threshold’ valve. The training is like a dumbbell for your diaphragm.

This Inspiratory Muscle Training device boasts 9 adjustable levels, meaning its resistance can increase as your inspiratory muscles grow stronger.

The POWERbreathe Classic can benefit the breathing function of many groups.   Whether you’re looking to improve your sports performance, aid your recovery after surgery, improve your breathing from a stroke, COPD, long covid, or want to expand your vital capacity to help with singing, POWERbreathe is a great choice for you.

Consistently use your POWERbreathe Plus breathing trainer twice a day – taking 30 breaths each time – and you’ll start to see benefits within 4-6 weeks.

Features and Benefits

• Manual device to strengthen inspiratory breathing muscles
• Ideal for beginners who are not very active or have a breathing issue
• Simple and easy to use
• 9 manually adjustable levels
• Increase stamina and wellness
• Breathing load from 10cmH2O to 90cmH2O in increments of 10cmH2O

The condition of your breathing muscles influences how well you can breathe. For people that are unfit or suffering from conditions such as COPD and asthma, breathing requires more effort and energy. Carrying out breathing training decreases this effort and reduces your demand for oxygen during exercise.

Strengthen your diaphragm – Breathing training with the POWERbreathe Classic Light Resistance focuses on strengthening your diaphragm rather than your lungs. This is because your lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs, and not muscle, and therefore cannot be strengthened.

Ideal for those that are inactive – Training the diaphragm with the POWERbreathe Classic Light Resistance benefits everyone. Whether you’re fit or unfit, have a medical condition or not. This light resistance model is best suited to people that are new to breathing training, are not active, or have breathing problems. Check the ‘Which Resistance?’ tab for more guidance.

9 adjustable levels – The POWERbreathe Classic Light Resistance has 9 adjustable levels. The levels refer to the amount of resistance you will feel on your in-breath. The range between each training level is quite small, making it more manageable to advance to the next resistance when you’re comfortable.

This ‘load’ training is similar to weightlifting, and this ‘light resistance’ device provides a level of load setting (weight lifted) in increments of 10 cmH2O, from 10 cmH2O to 90 cmH2O.

As you become stronger and fitter, the resistance may stop challenging you. At this point, it’s time to increase the resistance. When you can cope with the highest level of resistance, move onto the POWERbreathe Classic or Plus Medium Resistance device to continue strengthening your diaphragm.

Ergonomic design – The POWERbreathe Plus is the second generation of mechanical breathing trainers and features the following design improvements:

• Optimized airflow performance to make training more effective
• Fully integrated, easily adjustable resistance mechanism
• Easy to read resistance level indicator
• Soft, comfortable mouthpiece
• See results after 4-6 weeks- Consistently follow the training regime of 30 breaths, twice a day to feel less breathless during exertion in 4-6 weeks. This is scientifically proven. Learn more about how the POWERbreathe IMT device works in our guide.

Choosing the Right POWERbreathe Plus For You!

Choose Medic Plus:

• If you have more severe breathing problems, choose POWERbreathe Plus Medic.

Choose Light Resistance:

• If you exercise / are physically active for less than 2.5 hours per week and have no breathing problems
• If you exercise / are physically active for less than 2.5 hours per week and have breathing problems – minor/moderate
• If you exercise / are physically active for more than 2.5 hours per week and have severe breathing problems
• Clinically, we use the light model for most teens, women of all ages and men over 65. If you have questions about which model is right for you, please don’t hesitate to ask our physiotherapy team.

Choose Medium Resistance:

• If you exercise / are physically active for more than 2.5 hours per week and have no breathing problems
• If you exercise / are physically active for more than 2.5 hours per week and have some breathing problems that are not severe

Choose Heavy Resistance:

• Only if you have reached the highest load setting on a POWERbreathe Medium Resistance model first.

Normal Maximum Inspiratory Pressure

Research has demonstrated that the most effective way to train your respiratory muscles is to exercise at 60-80% of your Maximum Inspiratory Pressure.  This is effectively, the maximum amount of “weight” your diaphragm can “lift.”  Clinically, we like to start with a lower load than 60% to ensure we get the proper technique (50% on average) – using a high load right off the bat can sometimes mean you inadvertently train your neck/chest muscles (lifting the ribcage) instead of the diaphragm (expanding the ribcage).

Use the chart below to determine what your predicted maximum inspiratory pressure is, then half that value.  This gives you a general idea of the level you would start at.  The values below are for normal healthy individuals, so if you have any respiratory issues, you will most likely start at an even lower number and work your way up.

Load Settings for the POWERbreathe Classic Light IMT

Precautions & Contraindications

POWERbreathe IMT breathing training is drug-free, suitable for almost anyone and should cause no harmful side effects when used properly. Please read the following precautions and contraindications to ensure that POWERbreathe IMT is used safely and appropriately.  You must always consult your healthcare professional before embarking on any new form of exercise and this includes POWERbreathe breathing training.

Precautions:

• • • The patient must not make changes to any prescribed medication or prescribed treatment programme without consulting their doctor.
    • Do not use the POWERbreathe whilst taking part in other activities where you may become distracted, such as walking, running and driving.
    • POWERbreathe should not be used if the patient is suffering from a ruptured eardrum or any other condition of the eardrum.
    • It is not recommended to use POWERbreathe if you have suffered from or are likely to suffer from Costochondritis.
    • To prevent the potential transmission of infections, we recommend that POWERbreathe is not shared with other users, including family members.
    • This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
    • POWERbreathe is designed for exercising the inspiratory muscles only. No other use is intended or implied.
    • Anyone who is under the age of 16 should only use POWERbreathe with supervision from an adult. POWERbreathe contains small parts and is not suitable for children under 7 years.
    • Whilst training with POWERbreathe the patient should feel resistance when inhaling but it should not be painful. If the patient feels pain whilst using POWERbreathe they should stop immediately and consult their doctor.
    • Some users may experience slight ear discomfort when training with POWERbreathe, especially if they are recovering from a cold. This is caused by inadequate equalisation of pressure between the mouth and ears. If symptoms persist, patients should consult their doctor.
    • If a patient is suffering from a cold, sinusitis or respiratory tract infection, we advise that they do not use POWERbreathe until symptoms have disappeared.
    • If you start to feel dizzy using POWERbreathe IMT, please pause until recovered and take longer gaps between breaths.

Healthcare Professional should take into consideration the following conditions before patients use POWERbreathe:

• • 1. A history of spontaneous pneumothorax (a collapsed lung that was not due to traumatic injury e.g. broken rib), as it may lead to a recurrence of the condition.
    2. Pulmonary hypertension or large bullae on chest x-ray.
    3. Marked osteoporosis with history of rib fractures.
    4. Desaturation during or following IMT (<94%).

Contraindications

Inspiratory muscle training, such as training with POWERbreathe, is not recommended for patients with certain conditions, including the following:

• Patients who have undergone recent abdominal surgery and those with an abdominal hernia.
• Asthma patients who have a very low symptom perception and suffer from frequent, severe exacerbations or with an abnormally low perception of dyspnoea
• If a patient is suffering from a ruptured eardrum or any other condition of the ear
• Patients with marked elevated left ventricular end-diastolic volume and pressure
• Patients with worsening heart failure signs and symptoms after RMT / IMT
• If you are suffering from a cold, sinusitis or respiratory tract infection, we advise that you do not use your POWERbreathe IMT device

Documents

POWERbreathe Classic Light Resistance User Manual

Videos

What is Inspiratory Muscle Training?

POWERbreathe IMT – How to Perform a Correct Breathing Technique