Description
The Medic Plus is the IMT device of choice for those with very weak diaphragms and severe respiratory problems. The breathing trainer gently increases your breathing strength in a safe, scientifically proven way.
The device creates resistance on your in-breath, causing your muscles to work harder. Over time, you will build up strength and stamina and breathing will become easier. This can ease the symptoms of COPD and asthma and help with rehabilitation.
Strengthen your diaphragm- 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 Plus, 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.
Breathing training with the POWERbreathe Medic Plus focuses on strengthening your diaphragm rather than your lungs. This is because your lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs, and not muscle, and therefore cannot be strengthened.
Recommended by medical professionals- The Medic Plus is used 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.
Entry-level breathing training- The POWERbreathe Medic Plus offers the lowest and lightest starting ‘load’ (weight) of all our devices (except for the K-Series), at 9cmH2O (or 1cmH2O without the internal spring).
This ‘load’ training is similar to weightlifting, and the POWERbreathe Plus Medic device provides the lightest level of resistance setting (weight lifted) in increments – from 9cmH2O (or 1cmH2O without the internal spring) to 78cmH2O.
The range between each training level is smaller than the POWERbreathe Medic. This makes it ideal for patients who have severe breathing difficulties.
Ergonomic design- The POWERbreathe Plus is the second generation of mechanical breathing trainers and features the following design improvements:
- Optimised airflow performance to make training more effective
- Fully integrated, easily adjustable resistance mechanism
- Easy to read resistance level indicator
- Soft, comfortable mouthpiece
See results after 4-6 weeks- Consistently follow the training regime of 30 breaths, twice a day to feel less breathless during exertion in 4-6 weeks. This is scientifically proven. Learn more about how the POWERbreathe IMT device works in our guide.
Benefits to Patients
These benefits were the findings of trials and research in which the original POWERbreathe Medic was the intervention used.
- 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
Stroke Patients
After a stroke, patients will often experience an overproduction of saliva as a result of dysphagia, or if the face or lip muscles have been affected.
Using any POWERbreathe IMT breathing training device also produces saliva. This can be alleviated by removing the Medic Plus mouthpiece, attaching a POWERbreathe Spacer, and then attaching a POWERbreathe Classic Mouthpiece. This is because stroke patients may find it more difficult to keep a tight seal on the standard mouthpiece provided with the Medic Plus device. We have been advised by medical professionals that our POWERbreathe Classic Mouthpiece can help to overcome this problem.
Adjustable Load Setting Range
Note: A load of 3cmH2O can be achieved by removing the spring and replacing the valve assembly for training (see page 10 & 11, diagram 1 – 5). In addition, a load of 1 cm H20 can be achieved when the complete valve assembly is removed and the POWERbreathe breathing indicator ball is installed (see page 10 & 11, diagram 6).
All values are at a flow rate of 1 litre a Second, consistent with other POWERbreathe models.
Precise load settings may vary marginally due to: (1) the analogue nature of the calibrated spring tensioner and the precision with which the load is selected; (2) a small effect of inspiratory flow rate upon spring compression such that high inspiratory flow rates lead to greater spring compression, and a small increase in load (Caine & McConnell, 2000). This effect is common to all spring loaded devices, and its size is magnified by increasing spring range (it is larger in a spring with a maximum range of 90cmH2O compared with one with half this range), it is also greater at lower absolute load settings (Caine & McConnell, 2000).
Caine MP & McConnell AK. (2000). Development and evaluation of a pressure threshold inspiratory muscle trainer for use in the context of sports performance. Journal of Sports Engineering 3, 149-159.
What's In The Box?
The following items come as standard with every POWERbreathe Medic Plus purchase:
- POWERbreathe Medic Plus IMT device
- Mouthpiece
- Nose clip
- Storage pouch
- 4 x Cleansing Tablets – except for in the USA. Genuine POWERbreathe devices will not contain POWERbreathe Cleansing Tablets in the USA, as these tablets are not approved for sale and/or distribution within the USA by the regulatory authorities. Read more about Counterfeit products.
- Market specific user manual in the principle language of country where the device is purchased e.g. UK & Ireland – English; Spain – Spanish; Japan – Japanese.
