Keeping your lungs healthy and clean is imperative to everyone but especially those with paralysis. Any level or side of your body that is affected by paralysis poses an increased risk for the development of lung diseases, bacteria, and viral growth. This is because not being able to fully fill your lungs with fresh air along with the ability to adequately exhale prevents the movement of air within your lungs.
Lung exercises are designed for tranquility, strengthening your body, or both. Breathing in deeply takes clean air into the base of the lungs where you may not be inhaling sufficiently after paralysis. Breathing in or expanding the lungs takes multiple muscle groups working together. Breathing out is a natural state of rest for the lungs. When exhaling, the muscles relax causing the lungs to deflate.
As with any form of physical exercise, check with your healthcare professional to see if it is right for you as well as what type of exercises would best benefit your body preventing complications. Individuals with diagnoses such as heart conditions, asthma, COPD, and others may not be able to perform some breathing exercises. Individuals who utilize mechanical ventilation will not be able to do most of these exercises but can use the ‘sigh’ button to help them take a deep breath when used as prescribed.
Breathing exercises should be started slowly as with any exercise plan. You are strengthening your individual body, not preparing for the breathing ‘Olympics’. Work up gradually. Do not ever perform your lung exercises to the point where you become lightheaded. This is not allowing enough oxygen to reach your brain. If you become lightheaded or dizzy, stop, and rest until you return to normal. Becoming dizzy or lightheaded is not an indication that you have reached your maximum, it is an indication that you have gone way too far.
Some equipment can be purchased for lung exercise. The incentive spirometer is a great device that you received in the hospital for breathing exercises. A video about the incentive spirometer is here. More advanced lung exercisers may want to try a Powerlung device. Both of these devices have a cost.