Influence of Blowgun Training on Respiratory Function: Comparison with Expiratory Muscle Training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of blowgun training on respiratory function and compare it with expiratory muscle training. [Subjects] The subjects were 19 healthy adults. [Method] The subjects were divided at random into a blowgun training (BT) group, 10 subjects, and an expiratory muscle training (ET) group, 9 subjects. The BT group performed blowgun training, and the ET group performed expiratory resistance load training utilizing the PEP threshold method. We measured vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the FEV1 ratio, maximum expiratory flow (PEF), maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax), and maximum inspiratory pressure, and made within and between group comparisons. [Results] In the BT group, the values of PEF and PE max increased significantly, but no other differences in respiratory function were found. In the ET group, although the values of PEF and PEmax increased, the increases were found not to be significant. No other differences in respiratory function were found. In the inter-group comparison, no significant differences were found either. [Conclusion] The results suggest that blowgun training increases PEF and PEmax and has an effect on respiratory function which is similar to that of expiratory muscle training.