WTF? $300. That's not snake oil that's fraud.

 

It very well may be, but i do find it funny that in a mountain bike forum someone would get taken back by a $300 healthcare item that could possibly improve physical fitness and ultimately riding ability. I know, i know, i'm supposed to take that $300 and buy purple anodized spoke nipples, seat clamps and matching grips.



From what i have read it gets good reviews. price aside... (and yes i am aware of sponsored reviews)

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/review-airofit-pro-breathing-trainer.html

 

Or save money and ride with breathable ball gag.

Or tape with holes poked innit.

 

I have not, but I did read a 400 page book on breathing for athletic performance. You should start with the type of breath training that is done for "free" diving ...diving under water without the aid of an oxygen tank. Although somewhat contradictory and with completely different purported benefits, I find Pranayama Breathing to be useful and it's free.

 

Interesting. From a quick google it looks to be part of the yoga experience. I've been thinking about this as well as my back is routinely out of whack and many people have suggested yoga as an option for relief..... thanks

 

Are they snake oil? If you have used one or similar can you provide any feedback. They interest me but I don’t know anything about them.

Airofit ｜The pocket size smart breathing trainer

Airofit breathing trainer is a revolutionary respiratory muscle training system that boosts athletic performance, health, and well-being.

www.airofit.com

I see one very fundamental problem with it........that it has you breathing through you mouth, when you should be breathing from your nose. Unless you are sprinting (well......or swimming), anyway. But most breathing should be done through the nose.

There's a book called "The Oxygen Advantage" that is interesting. I've read a good deal of it, not all, and am skeptical of some of it, but some of it is sound.

 

Looks like something a crossfitter would use. Completely pointless.

 

I was looking at the Science tab on the website to see exactly how it works; purports to strengthen the diaphragm wall. Beyond that, I'm not sure what role that plays in increasing one's VO2max for example.

 

I had to use one of these several years ago. It was...unpleasant, but it did help (after 18 days in a coma and on a ventilator).

 

For those that don't know, this is an incentive spirometer and is like $10. At one point a doctor recommended I use one, but only used it for a short while so can't comment much about how useful it actually is.

 

If they worked (there's evidence to suggest they reduce "perceived" effort) then why would pro cycling teams bother with altitude training camps?

 

When I was in the military, I had to spend 6 weeks at an academy located in Colorado Springs. It was so hard to run and exercise out there due to altitude. When I came back to the PNW, I was able to run long distances without stress. Then my running super powers wore off.

 

I was just reading about this on trainer road, very informative thread on the subject, Airofit breathing training tool, Airofit Review - Breathing Trainer for Endurance Cyclists | EVOQ.BIKE

then you can also get this jus to see if it is for you

Amazon.com

If you looking for an edge I would research breathing techniques to increase your carbon dioxide tolerance,

 

I was just reading about this on trainer road, very informative thread on the subject, Airofit breathing training tool, Airofit Review - Breathing Trainer for Endurance Cyclists | EVOQ.BIKE

then you can also get this jus to see if it is for you

Amazon.com

If you looking for an edge I would research breathing techniques to increase your carbon dioxide tolerance,

Free Diving breathing ladders ...if you like free pain

 

Recent advancements in our understanding of the ergogenic effect of respiratory muscle training in healthy humans: a systematic review

Respiratory muscle training (RMT) has been shown to be an effective ergogenic aid for sport performance. RMT has been documented to improve performance in a wide range of exercise modalities including running, cycling, swimming, and rowing. The physiological ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

I have used it and it did helped me for a while until I grow out of it. However, I'm 75% sure it won't help other people.

Before buying one, you should ask yourself. When working out hard on the bike, what part of your body give up first? I believe for most people on mtb, it's legs or arms or lower back. Improving the weakest link can significantly extend your time in the red zone.
In my case, which is rare, the breathing diaphragm in my belly area is the weakest link. When I workout hard I feel sore in the abs and I can't breath. For that Airofit did helped me strengthen my breathing diaphragm until it's no longer my performance limitor. Then it's no longer useful pass that point when other parts of my body fail first before my breathing. So I stopped using it.

 

Strengthening the lungs or diaphragm may help if you are coming off a ventilator. In other words a major illness. Look at the real research to see if helps in the long run. More aerobic power or strength takes place at the chemical level in the blood O2 exchange. Yes, there is more to it. Really all happens at the mitochondria level in the muscle which came from your parents. The biggest help for me is training but in the absence of a periodized training program, L-Arginine which is a nitric-oxide precursor helps me a lot. Beet juice is also the same. Want boots, then try 3-4 grams of
L-Arginine 30-45 minutes before your ride. Look this up, do not take my word for it.

 

I don't know about the gadgets being sold, but there are certainly benefits that can be attained through breath control. Back in the day, I used to incorporate swimming in my training routine, holding my breath for the length of the pool, then breathing normally on the return lap, and repeating. Generally, I notice elevation's effects starting at about 9000 feet, then and now. But at the time, I got to a point where I really didn't notice those effects until about 12,000 feet. How much of that was due to the breath training I can't say for sure.

Exercise & Fitness

Learn the “how” and “why” behind movement, from small daily activities to intentional workouts.

www.livestrong.com

Holding Your Breath: Benefits and Science - Oxygen Advantage

Breath holding benefits. How to hold your breath longer to simulate high altitude training. Improve oxygenation, performance, recovery, and endurance.

oxygenadvantage.com

.

 

NPR did a story on these back in September:

Daily 'breath training' can work as well as medicine to reduce high blood pressure

Research finds five to 10 minutes daily of a type of strength training for muscles used in breathing can help anyone reduce or prevent high blood pressure. The training can also help elite athletes.

www.npr.org

In addition to the trials on hypertension, there was a study in middle-aged and older adults showing there was an increase in time to exhaustion in a treadmill test after inspiratory muscle strength training.

 

The hypertension study is compelling.

While 9 mmHG seems small, it is indeed a huge difference.