BREATHE! VIBRATE! LIFT!By Roy M. WallackThe lowdown: Resistance training for your lungs. Resembling a six-inch bicycle pump attached to a snorkel mouthpiece, the device is designed to create resistance (and thereby strengthen) your breathing muscles, expanding the oxygen-gathering capacity of your lungs.
The mechanics: Vigorously inhale and exhale through the device - not easy because your breath must pass through an adjustable "load cell" each way.
As you inhale and exhale the cell's action applies resistance to the many muscles of the upper torso that play a role in breathing - including the diaphragm, intercostals, transverse abs, pecs and assorted assistor muscles. Perform three sets of 10 reps. Increase resistance to the load cell as your lung muscles strengthen.
The payoff: Because strength-trained lungs suck in more oxygen with each breath, and thus oxygenate a greater number of muscle fibers, the PowerLung claims reduce fatigue, increase endurance and lower heart rate. (Most people use less than half of their capacity - and that falls over time as lung muscles, like all muscles in the body, weaken 1 percent a year after age 35. Also, while cardio training increases oxygen uptake and lowers heart rate, it doesn't make the lung muscles significantly stronger. You would need weights, call it resistance breathing - for that.)
Body parts worked: All respiratory-related muscles. No other breath trainer works the exhalation muscles.
Time needed for a workout: Ten minutes, twice a day.
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