POWERbreathe Medic – Inspiratory Muscle Trainer

Additional information

Adjustable Inspiratory Muscle Training device that is approved for prescription in the UK by the NHS. It received approval after being rigorously assessed for clinical evidence, patient compliance and financial savings. It is drug-free with no side effects or drug interactions and clinically proven to alleviate breathlessness. It offers resistance to breathing in that is created by the adjustable spring-loaded valve.

This ‘load’ training is similar to weightlifting, and in the instance of the POWERbreathe Medic, provides an introductory level of load setting (weight lifted) in increments, from 10cmH2O to 90cmH2O. The range between each training level is quite small which means that as your breathing muscles become stronger and you move up one of the training levels by increasing the resistance, this small increase in cmH2O makes it more manageable.

The POWERbreathe Medic IMT device offers an evidence-based, drug-free treatment for patients in a variety of medical conditions such as COPD, heart failure, asthma, thoracic surgery, ventilator weaning, cystic fibrosis and neuromuscular disease. The Medic has been taken up by medical professionals as an adjunct to pharmacological treatments. It can be used as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with pulmonary rehabilitation, with or without supervision, and can be easily used straight out of the box.

Respiratory muscle weakness is inherent in various patient groups and a major contributor to the perception of difficult or laboured breathing (dyspnoea). However, when the inspiratory muscles are ‘overloaded’ regularly using the Medic, they adapt and become stronger and more resistant to fatigue. Activating stronger inspiratory muscles requires less effort during a given task, reducing dyspnoea. This has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, particularly in patients with COPD.

• Increase in quality of life
• Reduction in drug intake by up to 75%
• Non-invasive treatment
• Drug-free with no side effects or drug interactions
• The first non pharmacological treatment for respiratory disease
• Clinically proven by a wealth of research
• Continuous research leads a program of development and new products
• Reduces perception of effort and increases blood flow to locomotor muscles thereby enabling increased activity or exercise
• Training adjunct for Pulmonary Rehab
• Can be used straight out of the box