Precautions & Contraindications

POWERbreathe breathing training devices (both IMT and EMT) are drug free, suitable for almost anyone and should cause no harmful side effects when used properly. Please read the following precautions and contraindications to ensure that your POWERbreathe breathing device is used safely and appropriately. You must always consult your healthcare professional before embarking on any new form of exercise and this includes POWERbreathe breathing training.

POWERbreathe IMT

Precautions:

  • The patient must not make changes to any prescribed medication or prescribed treatment programme without consulting their doctor.
  • The K-Series devices are not intended for use by persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
  • Do not use the POWERbreathe whilst taking part in other activities where you may become distracted, such as walking, running and driving.
  • If you have a pacemaker or other medical implant containing magnets or electronics, please consult with your doctor before using the POWERbreathe K-Series devices.
  • POWERbreathe should not be used if the patient is suffering from a ruptured eardrum or any other condition of the eardrum.
  • It is not recommended to use POWERbreathe IMT if you have suffered from or are likely to suffer from Costochondritis.
  • To prevent the potential transmission of infections, we recommend that POWERbreathe is not shared with other users, including family members.
  • This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
  • POWERbreathe is designed for exercising the inspiratory muscles only. No other use is intended or implied.
  • Anyone who is under the age of 16 should only use POWERbreathe with supervision from an adult. POWERbreathe contains small parts and is not suitable for children under 7 years.
  • Whilst training with POWERbreathe the patient should feel resistance when inhaling but it should not be painful. If the patient feels pain whilst using POWERbreathe they should stop immediately and consult their doctor.
  • Some users may experience slight ear discomfort when training with POWERbreathe, especially if they are recovering from a cold. This is caused by inadequate equalisation of pressure between the mouth and ears. If symptoms persist, patients should consult their doctor.
  • If a patient is suffering from a cold, sinusitis or respiratory tract infection, we advise that they do not use POWERbreathe until symptoms have disappeared.
  • If you start to feel dizzy using POWERbreathe IMT, please pause until recovered and take longer gaps between breaths.

Healthcare Professional should take into consideration the following conditions before patients use POWERbreathe:

  1. A history of spontaneous pneumothorax (a collapsed lung that was not due to traumatic injury e.g. broken rib), as it may lead to a recurrence of the condition.
  2. Pulmonary hypertension or large bullae on chest x-ray.
  3. Marked osteoporosis with history of rib fractures.
  4. Desaturation during or following IMT (<94%).

Contraindications

Inspiratory muscle training, such as training with POWERbreathe, is not recommended for patients with certain conditions, including the following:

  • Patients who have undergone recent abdominal surgery and those with abdominal hernia.
  • Asthma patients who have a very low symptom perception and suffer from frequent, severe exacerbations or with an abnormally low perception of dyspnoea.
  • If a patient is suffering from a ruptured eardrum or any other condition of the ear.
  • Patients with marked elevated left ventricular end-diastolic volume and pressure.
  • Patients with worsening heart failure signs and symptoms after RMT / IMT.
  • If you are suffering from a cold, sinusitis or respiratory tract infection, we advise that you do not use your POWERbreathe IMT device.

POWERbreathe EMT

General Precautions – please also see Medical Precautions, below:

  • A patient must not make changes to any prescribed medication or prescribed treatment programme without consulting their doctor.
  • Do not use the POWERbreathe EMT device whilst taking part in other activities where you may become distracted, such as walking, running, and driving.
  • To prevent the potential transmission of infections, we recommend that your POWERbreathe EMT device is not shared with other users, including family members.
  • POWERbreathe EMT is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
  • POWERbreathe EMT devices are designed for exercising the expiratory muscles only. No other use is intended or implied.
  • Anyone who is under the age of 16 should only use a POWERbreathe EMT device with supervision from an adult. POWERbreathe EMT devices contain small parts and are not suitable for children under 7 years.
  • Whilst training with the POWERbreathe EMT device, you should feel resistance when exhaling but it should not be painful. If you feel pain whilst using the POWERbreathe EMT device, stop immediately and consult your healthcare professional.
  • Some users may experience slight ear discomfort when training with the POWERbreathe EMT device, especially if they are recovering from a cold. This is caused by inadequate equalisation of pressure between the mouth and ears. If symptoms persist, you should consult your doctor.
  • If you are suffering from a cold, sinusitis, or respiratory tract infection, we advise that you do not use your POWERbreathe EMT device until symptoms have disappeared.
  • If you start to feel dizzy using POWERbreathe EMT, please pause until recovered and take longer gaps between breaths.
  • POWERbreathe EMT should not be used if you are suffering from a ruptured eardrum or any other condition of the eardrum.
  • It is not recommended to use POWERbreathe EMT if you have suffered from or are likely to suffer from Costochondritis.
  • POWERbreathe EX1 EMT devices should not be used if you are suffering from excessive intraocular eye pressure.
  • If you are or might be pregnant.

Medical Precautions:

Healthcare Professionals should take into consideration the following conditions before prescribing the use of POWERbreathe EMT to patients and assess its use on a case-by-case basis:
  1. A history of spontaneous pneumothorax (a collapsed lung that was not due to traumatic injury e.g., broken rib), as this may lead to a recurrence of the condition.
  2. Pulmonary hypertension or large bullae on chest x-ray.
  3. Marked osteoporosis with a history of rib fractures.
  4. Seek medical advice and approval before using POWERbreathe EX1 with a Patient who is undergoing Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage (CSF drainage).
  5. Chest trauma or surgery, including cardiac surgery, as well as any recent oral, face or neck and skull surgery.
  6. Epistaxis (nosebleeds).
  7. A patient undergoing or recovering from oesophageal surgery.
  8. Active haemoptysis.
  9. A patient undergoing or recovering from a lung resection or lung transplant.
  10. Tracheostomy patients.
  11. A patient suffering excessive intraocular eye pressure.

Medical Contraindications:

When determining if a patient is suitable for EMT, it is worth considering if a Valsalva manoeuvre would be contraindicated for their condition. This is because like the Valsalva manoeuvre, EMT involves exhaling as hard as possible while the nose is pinched closed. Therefore, if the generation of intrathoracic pressure (ITP) and/or intracranial pressure (ICP) is contraindicated for the Valsalva manoeuvre, then so too is the use of EMT.
 
Expiratory muscle training, such as the POWERbreathe EX1, is not recommended for patients with certain conditions, which include the following:
  • Patients who have undergone recent abdominal surgery and those with an abdominal hernia.
  • Asthma patients who have a very low symptom perception and suffer from frequent, severe exacerbations or with an abnormally low perception of dyspnoea.
  • If a patient is suffering from a ruptured eardrum or any other condition of the ear.
  • Patients with marked elevated left ventricular end-diastolic volume and pressure.
  • Patients with worsening heart failure signs and symptoms after Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT).
  • Patients who are or might be pregnant.
  • Patients with untreated or uncontrollable heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).
  • Patients with untreated and uncontrollable high blood pressure (hypertension).