Tuesday, March 3, 2009

How Lung Training May Be Used To Gain Competitive Edge

By Chris Channing

Athletes are constantly looking for better methods of improving their body on a short time scale. Whether legal or not, athletes subject themselves to all sorts of scary drugs or workout methods that test the body to its limits. For a much safer method of improving one's physical activity over a short time span, lung training should be investigated in one's training regime.

Being able to perfect the aspects of breathing brings two important benefits. First, it allows for the body to expel toxins much more quickly than usual. This is done simply by exhaling, which is the main method the body uses to expel such toxins. The other benefit comes from the increased flow of oxygen, which results in better mental capacity, energy, and physical capacity.

Before dismissing the act of lung training as a false science, consider that studies have been done over a six month period to verify the ability of lung training to benefit athletes. Science News Online published an article in 2005 that detailed a six-month experiment in which test subjects were noted on their athletic ability over the period of time. By the end of the test, the average subject saw a 10% increase in overall improvement in performing exercises.

A normal workout is done based on resisting the body's ability to do something. Lifting weights, for instance, resists one's muscles to make them more able to lift heavy weights in the future. This is the same principle that is being used in lung training. Air coming in through a device is resisted against, thus making it harder for the subject to breathe. In increasing the strength of their lungs and their lung capacity, subjects are able to outperform others in physically stressing situations.

Athletes aren't the only ones who are taking part in this device. Some professions will actually stress the need of such training for employees- such as divers who may have to rely on strong breathing ability to do their jobs underwater. Even singers are making use of such devices to help them take in more air at once, and to hold notes longer by having a larger lung capacity.

Special devices used in lung training are often fairly inexpensive- and found easily online. One may also find such devices in sports stores, where they have attracted a large amount of sports enthusiasts. In addition, consumers are able to enjoy a wide selection of models and prices that best fit their current situation.

Final Thoughts

It's best to consult a physician or personal trainer for specific information on how lung trainers work, and to see if they are right for you. The average lung training device is also $100, depending on model and specific usage, so they are considered to be fairly inexpensive routes of improving one's athletic ability. - 16650

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