Handheld device that builds breathing muscles could help us get in shape

By Tom Campbell via SWNS

A handheld device that builds breathing muscles could help us get in shape, according to new research from the University of Colorado.

Doing just five minutes of the exercises every day for more than six weeks improved people's performance on the treadmill by 12 percent, according to a new study.

Many middle-aged and older adults struggle to meet health guidelines - that adults aged between 19 and 64 complete 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.

Now scientists have come up with a simple way of making exercising on the treadmill easier for those struggling to get enough exercise.

Regular workouts have been found to reduce the risk of major illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer - three of the leading causes of death worldwide.

Lead researcher, doctoral student Kaitlin Freeberg, of the University of Colorado, said: "Developing novel forms of physical training that increase adherence and improve physical function are key to reducing the risk of chronic diseases with aging.

"High-resistance IMST (high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training) may be one such strategy to promote adherence and improve multiple components of health in midlife and older adults."

IMST involves inhaling through a handheld device which adds resistance to the breath.

A total of 35 adults were divided into two groups, a high resistance training group and a low resistance control group.

Participants used a manual breathing trainer for 30 breaths a day - or around five minutes, over a period of six weeks.

Those who were part of the high-resistance group improved their treadmill time by 12 percent, the researchers found.

Ms. Freeberg said: "The improvement in the high-resistance group also showed a relationship with changes in 18 metabolites tested in the study, predominantly ones that play key roles in energy production and fatty acid metabolism.

No change was observed for people in the low-resistance control group.

It is estimated that only 23% of American adults get enough exercise, according to a CDC report from 2018.

Examples of moderate-intensity activity range from riding a bike and playing doubles tennis, to water aerobics and pushing a lawnmower.

People who are strapped for time can alternatively do 75 minutes of vigorous exercise to keep in shape.

Ms. Freeberg added: "These preliminary findings suggest five minutes per day of high-resistance IMST is a promising, highly adherable mode of physical training that increases exercise tolerance and modulates metabolic pathways in middle-aged and older adults."

The findings were presented at the American Physiological Society annual meeting in Philadelphia.