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The Breather breathing training device
$99.95 inc GST
The Breather is a hand-held breathing device for respiratory muscle training. You breathe in and out through it against a resistance you set, which works the muscles you use to inhale and exhale.
- Trains breathing in and breathing out, with a separate dial for each
- Two short sessions a day, 20 breaths each
- Drug-free, reusable and washed by hand
- TGA-listed medical device, supplied by Australian speech pathologist Nikki Martin
In stock
- Delivery from $17.50 Australia wide, posted from within Australia
- Pay by card or PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account
- NDIS plan managed? Email us for an invoice
- Questions? Call 0410 777 034
Is The Breather right for you?
The Breather is for people who want to strengthen the muscles they breathe with. It is used in rehabilitation, voice therapy and long-term respiratory support, and can be part of a plan set by your GP, physiotherapist or speech pathologist.
It may suit you if
- Everyday things like stairs or carrying the shopping leave you short of breath
- Your health professional has recommended respiratory muscle training
- You are working on your voice, cough or swallow with a speech pathologist
- You want a drug-free exercise you can do at home in a few minutes
Look at The Breather Fit if
- You are healthy and training for sport or fitness
- You want a higher resistance range
Check with your health professional before you start any new breathing exercise program, particularly if you have a lung or heart condition.
What The Breather does
The Breather is a resistance breathing device. You breathe in and out through it against a resistance you choose. That resistance makes your breathing muscles work harder than they do in normal breathing, which is how they get stronger over time. This is called respiratory muscle training.
Some trainers only work on breathing in, or only on breathing out. The Breather has two dials, so you train both.
Setting 1 is the easiest. Each dial is set on its own, so you can work one direction harder than the other.
Inhale dial
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Six settings. Works the muscles that draw air in, including the diaphragm.
Exhale dial
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Five settings. Works the muscles that push air out, including the abdominals.
Where it is used
Health professionals use respiratory muscle training with people who have stable COPD, asthma, obstructive sleep apnoea, swallowing difficulty (dysphagia), Parkinson's disease, heart failure or spinal cord injury, and with people recovering from a stroke.
The Breather does not replace your medication or other treatment. Use it alongside the care your health professional has prescribed.
Read the research
We summarise published studies on our site.
How to use The Breather
- Sit upright with your shoulders relaxed. Set both dials to 1.
- Breathe out fully, then close your lips around the mouthpiece.
- Breathe in deeply and forcefully for 2 to 3 seconds.
- Pause briefly, then breathe out forcefully for 2 to 3 seconds. Keep your cheeks from puffing out.
- That is one breath. Ten breaths make a set.
Our training page has the full protocol, a pre-session checklist and a daily journal you can print.
The usual routine
- 10 breaths in a set
- 2 sets in a session
- 2 sessions a day, morning and evening
- 6 days a week
About once a week, try turning a dial up one setting. It may take 2 to 4 weeks of regular training to feel a difference.
Specifications
| Inhale settings | 6 |
|---|---|
| Exhale settings | 5 |
| Size | 129 x 43 x 46 mm |
| Weight | About 45 g |
| Use | One person per device |
| Regulatory status | TGA-listed medical device |
Care and cleaning
- Take the mouthpiece off the device. Wash by hand in warm water with a little dishwashing liquid, then rinse well.
- Shake off the water and leave it to air dry on a clean surface, out of direct sunlight.
- For a deeper clean, soak for 5 to 15 minutes in 3 parts warm water to 1 part vinegar.
- It cannot go in the dishwasher.
- Do not share it. Each person needs their own device, even in the same family.
Delivery in Australia
Orders are posted from within Australia. Delivery is charged per order, and all prices include GST.
| Items in your order | Delivery |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | $17.50 |
| 4 to 10 | $30.00 |
| 11 to 20 | $39.50 |
| More than 20 | Call 0410 777 034 |
NDIS participants
If your plan is plan managed, we can send an invoice. Email sales@thebreather.com.au with the participant's name, address, mobile number, NDIS number, plan manager and the email address for the invoice.
Clinics and hospitals
Ordering for patients or a ward? Call 0410 777 034 or email sales@thebreather.com.au to talk through larger orders.
Who you are buying from
You are buying from speech pathologist Nikki Martin, the sole distributor of The Breather and The Breather Fit in Australia and New Zealand.
Nikki has practised speech pathology since 2000 and has worked in major teaching hospitals including Royal North Shore, Westmead and Concord. If you have a question about the device before you order, call 0410 777 034 or email sales@thebreather.com.au.
Questions people ask before they buy
How long before I notice a difference?
It may take 2 to 4 weeks of regular training to feel results. The usual routine is two sessions a day, six days a week.
How often should I use The Breather?
The usual guideline is two sessions a day, morning and evening, six days a week. Each session is two sets of 10 breaths.
What is the difference between The Breather and The Breather Fit?
Both train the muscles you use to breathe in and out, and both have six inhale and five exhale settings. The Breather is for people managing a health condition or rebuilding their breathing strength. The Breather Fit has a higher resistance range and is made for sport and fitness training.
Can two people share one Breather?
No. The Breather is a single-user device and should not be shared, even between close family members. Each person needs their own.
Will it make me light-headed?
Some people feel light-headed when they first start, and this usually passes. If it does not, stop and talk to your health professional.
Is The Breather the same as an incentive spirometer?
No. An incentive spirometer teaches slow, deep breathing and measures how much air you breathe in. The Breather adds resistance to strengthen your breathing muscles.
Does The Breather replace my medication?
No. The Breather is used alongside the treatment your health professional has prescribed, not instead of it.
Can I buy The Breather with NDIS funding?
If your NDIS plan is plan managed, we can prepare an invoice. Email sales@thebreather.com.au with the participant's name, address, mobile number, NDIS number, plan manager and the email address for the invoice.
How much is delivery in Australia?
Delivery is $17.50 for 1 to 3 items, $30.00 for 4 to 10 and $39.50 for 11 to 20, including GST. Orders are posted from within Australia.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. The information on this page is general and is not medical advice. Talk to your GP, physiotherapist or speech pathologist about whether respiratory muscle training is suitable for you.
