If you have a lung condition, you may have seen or been advised to use a small device called an incentive spirometer. It is commonly used in hospitals and during recovery from illness or surgery.
But what exactly does it do? Can it improve your breathing? And does everyone with a lung disease need to use one?
What Is an Incentive Spirometer?
An incentive spirometer is a simple breathing device that encourages you to take a slow, deep breath and helps you see how well you are breathing in.
Unlike a regular spirometry test, which is used to assess lung function and help diagnose conditions such as asthma or COPD, an incentive spirometer is primarily a breathing exercise tool.
The aim is to encourage deeper breaths and better expansion of the lungs.
Why Is Deep Breathing Important?
When a person is unwell, in pain, very weak, or spending a lot of time in bed, breathing can become shallower than normal. Parts of the lungs may not expand fully.
This can contribute to a condition called atelectasis, in which small areas of the lung become partially collapsed or poorly aerated.
Deep breathing exercises can help encourage the lungs to expand. An incentive spirometer provides visual feedback, which can make it easier for some patients to perform these exercises correctly and regularly.
When Can an Incentive Spirometer Be Helpful?
An incentive spirometer may be recommended in selected situations, particularly when there is a risk of reduced lung expansion.
It may be considered:
- After chest or other major surgery
- During recovery when a patient is spending prolonged periods in bed
- When pain or weakness makes deep breathing difficult
- In some patients with conditions that affect respiratory muscle strength
- When there is concern about reduced lung expansion or atelectasis
It may also be used during recovery from certain lung illnesses, including pneumonia, depending on the patient’s condition and the treating team’s advice.
Does Everyone with a Lung Disease Need an Incentive Spirometer?
No.
Having asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, or another lung condition does not automatically mean that you need an incentive spirometer.
An incentive spirometer does not treat the underlying cause of most lung diseases. For example, it does not replace asthma inhalers, COPD treatment, antibiotics when they are indicated, oxygen therapy when prescribed, or other disease-specific treatment.
Its role is mainly to encourage deep breathing and lung expansion when this is appropriate.
For patients with chronic respiratory diseases, treatment should be based on the specific lung condition and the patient’s symptoms, lung function, oxygen levels, physical ability, and overall health.
Is Incentive Spirometry Better Than Deep Breathing Exercises?
Not necessarily.
The incentive spirometer essentially gives the patient a visual target while performing a deep breath. Evidence suggests that deep breathing exercises can provide similar benefits in situations where incentive spirometry is used.
This is why an incentive spirometer should generally be considered an adjunct to a broader breathing and recovery program, rather than a treatment that works on its own.
After surgery, for example, clinical guidance has recommended combining breathing exercises with appropriate coughing techniques, early movement, and good pain control rather than relying on incentive spirometry alone.
How Should You Use an Incentive Spirometer?
If your doctor or respiratory therapist has recommended one, you will usually be asked to:
- Sit upright.
- Place your lips firmly around the mouthpiece.
- Breathe out normally.
- Slowly breathe in through the mouthpiece.
- Try to reach the target indicated on the device.
- Hold the breath briefly, as instructed.
- Remove the mouthpiece and breathe normally.
The exact number of breaths and how often you should use the device should be based on the instructions given to you.
Do not try to force yourself to reach an unnecessarily high number on the device. The goal is to perform slow, controlled deep breaths, not to compete with a particular reading.
Can It Improve Lung Function?
This is where expectations are important.
An incentive spirometer can help a patient practice deeper breathing, but it is not a general lung-strengthening treatment and should not be expected to reverse chronic lung disease.
Evidence for routine incentive spirometry, particularly after surgery, has been inconsistent. Current guidance does not support using it routinely on its own to prevent postoperative lung complications.
Its usefulness may depend on why it is being prescribed, the patient’s condition, and whether it is being used correctly as part of an appropriate respiratory care plan.
When Should You Stop and Seek Medical Advice?
Some people may feel light-headed if they take repeated deep breaths. If this happens, stop using the device, breathe normally, and recover before continuing.
If you develop significant or worsening shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, or a noticeable deterioration in your breathing, you should seek medical assessment rather than simply increasing your use of the incentive spirometer.
The Chest Clinic – Dr. Javed Husain & Associates, Karachi
At The Chest Clinic in Karachi, patients with respiratory problems can be assessed to determine the appropriate treatment and breathing support for their individual condition. Depending on the diagnosis, this may include lung function testing, oxygen assessment, breathing exercises, pulmonary rehabilitation, airway-clearance techniques, or other appropriate respiratory care.
For appointment and information call +923018479066, +923293364949, or email us at connect@thechestclinic.pk