Discussion
From the results of this study, it appears that using the Breather, SIE resistive training, was instrumental in producing changes in both the breathing mechanism and possibly in restoration and circulation. For example, it has been well established that the amount of strength a person can exhibit is related to the type of breathing being done. During breath holding the greatest amount of strength can be produced. Since the majority of the subjects showed an increase in hand strength from using the Breather, it indicates that the muscles involved in breathing, as well as the amount of air held in breathing, are capable of producing greater strength.
The decrease in waist circumference can also be explained by the forced expiration done on the Breather. It has been well documented that the abdominal muscles, especially the transversus abdominis, play an important role in expiration. In this regard, it should be noted that the transversus abdominis plays a role only in forced expiration. This is its only function. Thus, by doing forced expiration, there was most likely development of the abdominal muscles which produced a smaller waist size.
In regard to chest circumference, most of the active subjects showed an increase in chest size. This can be explained by the greater amount of inhalation that the subjects were doing together with improvement of the intercostal muscles and possibly the levator scapule and upper trapezius to help expand and elevate the thoracic chest cage. In addition, there was probably development of the diaphragm in its downward pulling action. It is also possible that the chest circumference may have increased due to greater expansion of the lungs or thoracic cavity.
In regard to resting pulse rate, there was greater variability in regard to pre and post testing in the resting state. Here, eight decreased, six showed no change, while four increased. This can be explained by some of the subjects being in a different mental state when being tested at different times of day. However, most important was the greater number of subjects who decreased their heart rate after the work load. This can be considered to be even more important than merely changing the resting pulse. A greater decrease in the heart rate after a standard work load is indicative of higher levels of fitness.
That there was an improvement in the cardiorespiratory system was also indicated by the increase in the distance that the subjects were able to cover in 12 minutes. A 12 minute run is mostly aerobic and to show an increase of such magnitude in this amount of time, when their life styles did not change during the time of the study, indicates that SIE resistive training played a major role.
Upon the portion of Dr. Lester Lee’s study on the Breather, he stated that “the preliminary objective data is quite impressive.” He felt that a tremendous variety of applications with the Breather on post operative patients necessitating incentive spirometry, patients with lung disorders, as well as the athletes desiring to enhance and facilitate their breathing efficiency and performance could be achieved.
The Breather Study was conducted in June0July, 1990 by Michael Yessis, Ph.D., international authority on sports medicine and training and columnist for Muscle & Fitness and Lester L. Lee, M.D., American College of Sports Medicine