Tuesday, August 20, 2024

LUFT is a resistance breathing apparatus with variable settings to increase the load against which you breathe in and out.

With a higher resistance (heavier) the repetition will be lower to encourage a strength adaptation to the breathing muscles responsible for breathing in and out – as in normal gym training.

As the muscle affecting inspiration and expiration are skeletal muscles, they are conditioned in the same way as many other muscles – high repetition and low load for endurance and lower repetitions with a higher load for strength.

With many other spirometers the resistance is not adjustable and leads to a plato with little significant benefit to either strength or resistance – similar to owning one pair of weights to which your body will soon become accustomed to.

Being able to change the resistance allows the tissue to adapt to easier optimal inspiration, powerful expiration (cough) or allow endurance to benefit the cardiopulmonary system.

These have shown to benefit even patients suffering from sport injuries or other illnesses where cardiovascular exercise in limited.

A simple test like a peak flow to measure progress is advisable.

FOR COMPETITIVE ATHLETES, ENDURANCE JUNKIES, SUFFERERS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES & LOW PULMONARY CAPABILITIES

Research has shown that strengthening and exercising the pulmonary muscles we use to breathe improves athletic performance, lessens breathlessness during exercise and in conditions such as asthma or emphysema. Luft helps to breathe more evenly and eases tension to help your body cope with stress. This revolutionary concept is the result of almost a decade of intensive research into how we breathe. Luft is an easy-to-use hand-held device that does not involve drugs. It is appropriate for people of all ages and levels of health and fitness. You simply breathe in through the Luft, using a little extra effort, and the device does the rest!

How does Luft work? Luft uses a technique known as resistance training, in much the same way as you might use weights to increase the strength of your arm muscles. As you inhale and exhale against the resistance within Luft, the respiratory muscles are made to work harder – improving their capacity and metabolic efficiency. Luft has a comfortable built-in mouthpiece, especially designed for optimal air intake. You simply breathe through it, using a little extra effort and the device does the rest.

How often should you use Luft? Using Luft for 30 breathes twice daily (2-minute sessions) makes your respiratory muscles work harder, thereby increasing their strength and endurance. Within 4 days, your respiratory muscles will feel stronger, within 3 weeks you will feel less breathless and within 4 weeks your performance and lung function will improve.

How to use Luft?

  • Locate the setting (1-5) halfway down the Luft and twist to operate
  • Set the Luft on number 3 or less
  • Place your mouth around the mouthpiece with pursed lips. Now breathe in and out through your mouth (not nose) as hard, fast and deep as you can manage.
  • Breathe in as deeply as you can and when your lungs feel full, force a bit more air into the lungs. Then breathe out as deeply as you can and when the lungs feel empty, force a bit more air out.
  • As you breathe in, ensure that your belly moves outwards, like the blowing up of a balloon. As you breathe out, suck your belly button (navel) in towards your spine.
  • Do this exercise twice daily – in the morning and evening for 30 breaths at a time
  • Note, after the first few days, the lungs may burn slightly and loose phlegm may appear
  • After the first week, set the Luft at 2.5 and continue the breathing exercises
  • After two weeks, close the setting down by a further 0.5, to setting 2, and breathe
  • After three weeks, close the setting down by a further 0.5, to setting 1.5, and breathe
  • Once you have used the Luft for 4 weeks, you will notice a marked improvement in your breathing capacity and resistance to fatigue
  • To maintain your lung fitness levels, continue the breathing exercises twice daily at a setting of 1.5, three times a week

• FOR ASTHMATICS, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BUT DO NOT EXHALE USING THE LUFT IN THE FIRST WEEK. REMOVE THE LUFT AND BREATHE OUT NORMALLY DURING THE SECOND WEEK, EXHALE WITH THE LUFT IN PLACE