Guest guest Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 Mike, Playing the harmonica and blowing up balloons are things typically things that COPD (or emphysema or chronic asthma) patients are told to do. The emphasis of these activities is the strong exhale and that's what COPD patients struggle with. We on the other hand struggle more with the inhale which is why an incentive spirometer is more specifically useful to us. All that aside, any activtity which encourages deep breathing can only do us good. So play the harmonica and we'll all be waiting to hear a performance! Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 9:45:25 PMSubject: harmonica I read somewhere that playing a harmonica can also help with your stats. Has anyone tried this? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I once had a patient in our spinal cord injury unit who we had difficulty getting off the ventilator after talking to him I found out he played the harmonica to help him take deeper breaths and strengthen his abdominal muscles it worked great When his Mother visited a few weeks later he played us a beautiul gospel song that brought tears to all I eyes Today that young man is breathing on his own and standing tall my favorite hospital story > > I read somewhere that playing a harmonica can also help with your stats. Has anyone tried this? > > Mike > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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