The BREATHER (the blue and white device that you may have seen) is the original device. This device and the companion resources target adults and children with Respiratory Muscle Weakness.
BREATHER FIT (black and orange device) generates higher resistance. This device and the companion resources target athletes of all disciplines.
BREATHER VOICE (burgundy and white) also generates higher resistance. This device and the companion resources target voice and wind instrument performers.
There are no significant difference between BREATHER FIT and BREATHER VOICE, but there are higher resistance settings in these two than in the original device.
I've often had patients whom the general protocols we provide don’t quite suit, so I modify to a more individualized plan Please feel free to do this as well. You may try out leaving inhale at level 2 & decreasing exhale to 1 to see if that helps the patient complete all 10 reps. Sometimes with COPD in particular, I have progressed inhale resistance before exhaling resistance due to air trapping symptoms. Over time, often exhale can increase with inhaling at just a step lower.
Other times, my patients have done only 5 reps at a time. Given the additional breaks, they are able to complete 4 sets of 5 reps.
There are 3 basic ways I am progressing as a patient:
1) most obvious is increasing the dial settings
2) increasing the number of reps in a set
3) reducing the time needed for breaks between sets.
Ultimately, I am measuring progress with my functional goals. For example, has Max Phonation Time increased? Or improved speech intensity at a given distance (I have done this with a dB meter app on my phone as well as used co-workers set at particular distances & check if the patient can produce a certain level of spoken word, phrase, or conversational levels) with intensity for intelligibility. In other words, if your patient is not progressing to the next level of resistance, but they are demonstrating functional outcomes - that’s okay. If you are not seeing outcomes, that’s when I would try modifying the training protocol to find an approach that will be effective to move us toward the functional goals.
We do a monthly webinar for clinicians, which you may find helpful if you can fit it into your schedule. The first part of the hour is a presentation & then there is 20+ minutes for live Q&A. The link to that is here if you’re interested. We also have a 3 part Respiratory Muscle Weakness on-demand webinar series that you may find helpful. Here are the general protocols we have, again all can/should be modified as you see fit for your individual patients. Each of these protocols is available in our free BREATHER COACH app.
STRENGTH
ENDURANCE
MAINTENANCE
REPS / SETS
2 sets, 10 reps
Twice Daily
6 days/week
1 sets, 30 reps
Twice Daily
6 days/week
1 sets, 20 reps
Once Daily
6 days/week
EFFORT
Regularly adjust settings to levels at which the patient can manage reps/sets within target.
IN THE ZONE
5-7 on 10-point
Breather Effort Scale
IN THE FLOW
3-4 on 10-point
Breather Effort Scale
IN THE FLOW
3-4 on 10-point
Breather Effort Scale