| (Caveat: What I'm typing is based on about 5 minutes of searching online.)
I looked at two different medical journals. One was something like the American Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, the other was JAMA. I also looked at the website for the maker of a device similar to this.
The result of my very short research does seem to show that these types of training devices do actually affect two things: Diaphragm strength and heart strength. It appears that patients who used such devices as part of a training regimen prior to heart surgery had better recovery rates than those who didn't.
Doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and buy one. I agree that an actual workout has better effects, such as muscle strengthening, but for people who may not have the ability to perform exercise, perhaps due to massive heart problems, it's a useful little tool.
Edit: If anyone gets one, I would love to hear the results, BTW. |