- A few minutesa day, at home
- Hand-helddevice, set up in clinic
- Reviewedand progressed at follow-ups
How it works
- Assess. We check whether IMT suits you and measure how strongly you can breathe in.
- Train. We choose the device, set the starting resistance and teach the technique.
- Review. We re-check and raise the resistance at follow-ups, so you keep progressing.
What is inspiratory muscle training?
IMT uses a small hand-held device that adds resistance when you breathe in. Training against that resistance for a few minutes a day, over several weeks, strengthens the breathing muscles.
Who might benefit?
- Lung conditions: people with COPD and other lung conditions who have weak breathing muscles.
- Before surgery: preparation before lung or abdominal surgery.
- After illness: recovery after illness, including long COVID.
- Sport: athletes and active people wanting to delay breathlessness under load.
Training for sport? See sports breathing & endurance, including the research behind IMT for athletes.