Anyone got one or used one?

Are they any good?

I've often wondered about these... being an asthma sufferer. But I've heard more negative reports on their benefits than positive ones so I've resisted forking out the £50 or so... so far

I'm wary of anything that restricts your breathing as a pose to encouraging it. If you want to be a better, fitter runner, then run more!

I think the idea of them is to give the diaphragm and other breathing muscles a work out...as you would work out other muscles in the gym for instance.

But I get the feeling from hearing what people have said about them that you have to be really disciplined...just like having a set of weights at home and not using them (of which I am guilty )

exactly what I've heard, they only seem to work well if you keep the training up. I'm also an asthma sufferer (peak flow of around 550-600) which is why I'm interested....

mind you, you could probably pick one up on ebay much cheaper. I just don't like the thought of buying a 'used' one :/

eeeeewwwwwww not a pleasant thought!!

I've seen these advertised but they always look a bit expensive to me.

I'm just curious to know whether anyone has actually used one of these yet?

Has anyones views on what they heard about them changed?

__________________
BE PATIENT NOT A PATIENT

FIRST THINGS FIRST

My other half bought one coz he plays trombone and his breathing is not what it used to be (bit like the rest of him!) But as far as I am aware he hasn't used it (much), they are supposed to be good, but you need to persevere with them, if you are not disciplined in making yourself do things like that, then save your money. Ebay, definately the cheapest....at the right time!

I bought one after I was told during a health test at the gym that I have low lung capacity. This isn't something that has as far as I'm aware, has caused me any problems in a lifetime of playing sport. I have a resting heart rate in the 50s and low blood pressure but I just thought maybe I should try and improve my breathing and looked for something to exercise my lungs. Yes, yes, I know that running and going to the gym do that already.
I do use it on a regular basis but lapse sometimes too. Is it any good? Well I don't know really. I haven't noticed any increase in performance but perhaps if I had my lung capacity checked again?

I have one I don't use. If anyones interested, drop me a PM.

YO peeps, i am at University studying sport science and we have been studying inspiratory muscle trainers like Powerbreathe, incidently one of the senior lecturers is one if the developers of the actual Powerbreathe device itself so we were told exactly how it works. There were many studies carried out on the effect of using one of them and they were all very positive. Improving inspiratory muscle function decreases the work that the rest of the body has to do during exercise, therefore it is possible to improve running ability by improving lung function. You can also "google" it to see the papers etc on it.
I have one myself and have started using it again regularly and i have improved my times quite well. In a lab we done at uni as well, it was no coincidence that i outperformed everyone else in the inspiratory muscle test. (the amount of air i could breathe in, in one single breathe) as i was the only one to own a powerbreathe device.

Hopes this helps

adios

PS - If you go onto powerbreathe.com and go onto "what the experts say" it will explain all there.

I bought a powerbreathe a couple of weeks ago. it is deffinately a discipline thing but then so is getting up for a run. I cant say if its working as I've just started training again and use that as well but I though I'd get one as I was failed for army sellection a few years ago for having low lung capacity due to asthma as a child. They're a bit cheaper now I payed £29 from argos and I think tesco was selling them for about the same price.