Lung exercisers
I've been looking on Amazon at different lung exerciser devices. Like the airphysio versus Ultrabreathe. You breathe in with some and some you breathe out. Has anyone had any success with these devices? Is there one that works both ways? Any advice you folks can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Hi Eric, and welcome to our community website!
There are many products which are available on the market today, like the ones you've mentioned. Generally speaking, these adjuncts are typically classified as Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) devices. They are used to help patients to free up and clear their airways of mucus. We do have some material, published on our sister site, COPD.net, which focuses on this type of therapy. For your convenience, here is a link to one of those articles: https://copd.net/living/strategies-improving-cough.
I do hope others in the community will see your post and offer to share their own experiences using this therapy. I also hope you will find the information in the article is helpful in a practical way.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
Hi, Leon! Always learning something new here on the site. I am fascinated by these PEP devices -- found some neat videos on YouTube from RTs showing how they work, which was interesting. Eric may appreciate doing a YouTube search as well. It often helps to see things before you make a decision! A question for you -- is PEP therapy recommended or used in the treatment of COVID-19? How treatment is managed in a hospital setting is a mystery to most of us, aside from intubating. -Melissa, asthma.net team
Hi Melissa - I have always enjoyed this field. No matter how many years I have been a part of the profession, there are always new developments and new research and experiences to learn from.
I have not seen COVID-19 being treated using these types of adjuncts.
This does not necessarily mean the devices are not being used to help with COVID-19 treatment, I just have not seen it (yet) in my facility.
In fact, a brief search of some of the literature already shows some new articles which are addressing the use of adjunct devices in the use of the COVID-19 virus.
Here is one, from the NIH: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04530435.
And here is another from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2021.203.1_MeetingAbstracts.A4477
Perhaps some of our other colleagues with clinical insights will weigh in with their experiences as well.
Looks like your thoughts were somewhat predictive as this type of therapy is already being used and evaluated for further efficacy, Melissa.
Good work!
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
I was wondering about using it for covid also! Maybe it's something they haven't considered although I doubt that.
Hi Eric - looks like you are thinking in the right direction and, along with's thought process as well.
If you have an opportunity, please take a look at my response to her, above. It will address your concern as well.
All the best,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
so an update for you folks I settled on this device and it seems to work well. Most the time I only have to blow through it a couple times and it helps get the phlegm moving luckily. Feels like if I did too much more it could make an asthma attack come on because of all the phlegm that feels like it starts . I have an appointment with my primary care at the end of October going to speak with him more about it. I'm hoping the more I work into it the better it gets. I will keep updating.
Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YRMCPQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_K4XG7XPCXMTSP25CP6EB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Hi again, Eric, and thanks for bringing us up-to-date on the device you ultimately selected to assist (you), in the movement of mucus. We appreciate your feedback here.
I remember you mentioned, in another one of your posts, that you plan on seeing your primary care physician soon. Please, if you don't mind, do check back, and let us know how the visit turns out for you.
Good luck!
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
