Breathing Devices To Boost Sports Performance and Health

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By Dr. Artour Rakhimov (www.NormalBreathing.com)

Breathing devices and respiratory trainers, when applied correctly, can enhance sports performance and general health. Many western breathing devices are used to increase the strength of the respiratory muscles. Numerous clinical studies have found that, indeed, these devices can increase endurance and VO2max (maximum oxygen utilization during maximum efforts exercise), improve lung function parameters (VEF, FVC, PEF, and VEmax), lower pulse for the same physical load and at rest, reduce medication usage and symptoms, improve quality of life (including level of energy, sleep and digestion) and lead to other beneficial effects.

However, one must know the exact details which breathing devices exist and how to use these breathing devices correctly. Otherwise, the effects of breathing exercises can be devastating since virtually all chronic diseases are based on tissue hypoxia or low bod oxygen level in body cells.

Correct breathing during exercise starts with correct breathing at rest

High levels of body and brain oxygen at rest are crucial for good sports performance. Which automatic breathing pattern provides the human body with maximum oxygen levels? This diagram shows how breathing parameters for ideal, normal and 2 ineffective breathing patterns are linked with body oxygen levels (the CP is breath holding time done AFTER usual exhalation and only until the very first stress - no pushing yourself for large numbers). We have highest body oxygenation (3 min for this tough test), when we take only 3 breaths per minute with nasal and diaphragmatic breathing.
02. Breathing Patterns and Buteyko Oxygen Test (Buteyko Technique)
by artour2006 | video info

49 ratings | 15,318 views
curated content from YouTube

Powerbreathe

Powerbreathe is probably the most popular breathing device used by Western athletes to train breathing muscles by creating resistance that can be regulated: Powerbreathe . There are several versions of the Powerbreathe breathing device: Powerbreathe Medic, Powerbreathe Plus, Powerbreathe Ironman, Powerbreathe K series or Kinetic. Apart from better sports performance, it is used for asthma and COPD with medical studies that found positive effects.

Powerbreathe has similar effects as PowerLung, Expand-A-Lung, and Ultrabreathe (see below). However, one can get most benefits for this and other devices only in cases of long-term adaptation of the breathing center to higher CO2 levels that ensures better body oxygenation. These effects are defined by breathing techniques and instructions used during breathwork. For example, if exhalations are too fast (with no relaxation and pauses), losses in arterial CO2 will reduce oxygen transport leading to hyperventilation and low cell oxygen levels. Hence, such sessions with overbreathing should reduce endurance and health.

PowerLung vs. Powerbreathe and Expand-A-Lung

PowerLung is another breathing trainer to strengthen the respiratory muscles by creating resistance. Studies have found positive effects of PowerLung on several groups of people (elite international swimmers, cross country runners, competitive marathoners and triathletes, young soccer players, intermittent sprint athletes, SCUBA divers, the aged, and older females). The device became popular for improving fitness in rowing, swimming, triathlon, and some other sports. It has been also used in asthma and COPD.

The key advantage of PowerLung is a larger dead volume (extra space for exhaled air) that increases alveolar CO2 levels and prevents hyperventilation (or overbreathing) during breath work. Deep breathing or hyperventilation causes arterial hypocapnia (CO2 deficiency) and low body oxygen levels (see details below). This worsens symptoms of chronic diseases and sports performance.

Related link: Powerlung for better health and sports performance.

Frolov Breathing Device

Among all breathing devices, this is the most popular breathing device with numerous clinical trials and medical approbations. The device creates resistance due to water, and the amount of water (usually between 10 and 30 ml) greatly influences the resistance to exhalation. Exhalations are to be slow for best health benefits (as long as possible for advanced learners).

Indeed, since chronic hyperventilation and low CO2 content in the lungs are the key pathological hallmarks of chronic diseases (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, COPD, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and many others), it is sensible to slow down breathing at rest, and this is the main purpose of the Frolov device.

Slower breathing at rest improves oxygen transport since CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a powerful dilator of blood vessels (study the web for CO2 Vasodilation Effect) and improved Bohr effect (increased release of O2 in tissue capillaries). As a result, slower breathing improves symptoms and leads to less medication. Furthermore, it has profound effect on aerobic endurance and VO2max.

The Frolov breathing device has been endorsed by more than 300 physicians, family doctors, nurses, and other health professionals in Russia. There are over 2 million people in Russia who used the device and they could confirm that they have improved their poor health with the help of the Frolov breathing device. Clinical trials with the Frolov breathing device was conducted on patients with bronchial asthma with weakness of respiratory muscles, children with bronchial asthma, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, angina pectoris, hypertension, and diabetes. Apart from these controlled investigations, medical reports have revealed positive effects on gastrointestinal problems, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, psoriasis, obesity, psychological disorders, and many other disorders.

The main international promoter of the Frolov breathing device in Russia is company Dinamika (Novosibirsk) with Dr. Sergey Nakifovich Zinatulin (Chief Physician) and Anna Chistyakova (International Sales Manager) - http://www.intellectbreathing.com/

Expand-A-Lung: Reviews of Expand-A-Lung Breath Trainer

Studies have found that this device also increases sports performance and fitness. However, the benefits of the device can be greatly amplified. How? One Swiss study found that athletes, after breathing training with Expand-A-Lung, reduced their VE (minute ventilation) for a given exercise intensity. However, it is known that VE during exercise is proportional to VE at rest. Slower breathing at rest improves body oxygen levels. This effect is based on CO2-vasodilating and Bohr-related abilities of CO2. Exhalations with Expand-A-Lung breathing exerciser, according to instructions, are passive and slow. That allows gradual accumulation of CO2 in the lungs and blood. Hence, if we consider CO2 changes only, all these breathing trainers and devices (Powerbreathe, Expand-A-Lung, Frolov breathing device, Samozdrav, DIY Breathing Device, and others) can be beneficial for better body oxygenation, health, and sports performance.

Furthermore, numerous lifestyle factors are crucial for higher body oxygen levels. More details: Expand-A-Lung: Reviews.

YouTube

03-A- Physiology (Vasodilation-Vasoconstriction and Breathing Patterns)
by artour2006 | video info

30 ratings | 10,969 views
curated content from YouTube

O2 Delivery Depends on Body CO2 Levels

Among all arterial dilators (also called vasodilators), natural vasodilation agent CO2 is probably the most powerful one. The vasodilation effect is present in healthy people due to normal breathing parameters (no hyperventilation at rest) and high arterial CO2 concentration. According to Dr. Kashiba and his medical colleagues from the Department of Biochemistry and Integrative Medical Biology (Keio University, Tokyo, Japan) CO2 is a "potent vasodilator" (Kashiba et al, 2002), while Dr. Djurberg and his colleagues from the Department of Anaesthesia (Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) suggested "Carbon dioxide, a most potent cerebral vasodilator..." (Djurberg et al, 1998).

Hence, it is not a surprise that hyperventilation leads to constriction of blood vessels and reduced oxygen delivery to cells and tissues. Furthermore, physical exercise with nose breathing only (in and out) provides maximum benefits for higher body oxygen levels and health. Nasal breathing during exercise, as Russian doctors observed, prevent stroke, angina, asthma attacks and many other acute exacerbations due to better oxygen transport.

If you try nose breathing for your physical exercise with less breathing 24/7, you will find the real power of breath since your sleep, digestion, recovery after exercise and all other factors will be improved. Vice versa, deliberate overbreathing produces the opposite effect: worse symptoms of diseases and poor sports performance.

Dr. Artour Rakhimov is a health educator, author of books and the educational website www.NormalBreathing.com with hundreds of medical quotes, references, results of clinical trials, charts, tables, graphs, analysis of respiratory techniques, free exercises, manuals, techniques, lifestyle modules and other resources for better cells oxygen content and health. Normal Breathing defeats chronic diseases!

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Breathing trainers

If you add an extra volume to trap exhaled air, you will improve their effects up to 7-10 times.
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artour

I educate people about importance of breathing because over 95% of adults do not know how to breathe for maximum body oxygenation.

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