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Respiratory Endurance Trainer

Congratulations SpiroTiger users Geoff Kabush, Seamus McGrath, Kris Sneddon on your performance at the Canadian MTN Bike National Championship. 1st, 4th, 5th.

Athletes, inquire about our Pro Deal for the Spirotiger.

Breathless Legs? Consider Training Your Respiration

Respiratory Endurance Training improves performance and endurance capabilities in sports!

Ryder HesjedalRespiratory muscles fatigue during sports activities. This leads to a decrease in performance. Studies by Prof. U. Boutellier, sports physiologist at the Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ) and the University of Zurich, prove this in a most impressive manner.

In the past, it was assumed that physical endurance and performance were primarily limited by the heart and the cardiovascular system; in part also by the muscular system. This is why it was believed that the respiratory system did not impair the functional capacity since it was assumed that it had sufficient reserves.

The targeted endurance training of the respiratory muscles, however, does substantially increase physical endurance, resulting in a relevant increase of functional capacity. This is true both for top athletes as well as popular sports.

It is due to this fact that the SpiroTiger® has effectively and sustainably convinced more than 1000 users in less than a year’s time. Used by Elite athletes Ryder Hesjedal (picture above), Geoff Kabush, George Hincapie, Dominique Gisin and many more.

Priorities in energy distribution (A respiratory metaboreflex that “steals” blood flow from locomotor muscles.)

The functions of vital organs such as the heart, the brain and respiration are maintained by the body as its top priority. Even under maximum stress, these organs are supplied with sufficient oxygen and energy. This happens at the expense of non-vital functions: Oxygen-supply to the legs and arms is reduced. The consequence is a substantial decrease in vitality and a quick build-up of hyperacidity due to H+ production. 

Endurance training of the respiratory muscles will remedy this problem. It reduces oxygen consumption by the breathing muscles. The oxygen supply is now available to the peripheral muscles. Legs and arms will fatigue later under stress and will produce less H+ at the same level of activity.


WHY USE THE SPIROTIGER?

There are other respiratory devices on the market but the SpiroTiger is the only one that exercises your respiratory muscles correctly. All other respiratory training devices (eg. Powerlung) are resistance training devices such as a leg press apparatus whereas the SpiroTiger is like a treadmill. With the Powerlung you are able to use it for 20 - 30 breaths, and after that you will have hyperventilated, and will become dizzy if you continue. This could be compared with a high intensity session that a marathon runner might do by running 400m as an all out sprint. If a marathon runner trains like this the effect would be to change his muscle fibre ability and produce a bad marathon runner and not a good 400m runner. If the runner was genetically good for endurance distances then it would decrease the ability of his STF to work and if he was not genetically predisposed (i.e. had higher percentage of FTF) then you could alter his muscle ‘make-up’ considerably. The diaphragm is predominantly STF as the respiratory system can be classed as having an endurance role. So using a system that tends to improve the efficiency of FTF is of no benefit.

SpiroTiger is the "LSD" training for the diaphragm - long slow endurance training with all the benefits of "overload" on a muscle that you normally can't work during regular training.

The SpiroTiger will train your respiratory system to increase air volume in and out of the lungs, to increase O2 intake with increased air distribution to the whole lung, as well as deep expiration with avoiding air entrapment to get rid of the CO2. Explosive and hard expiration as we see with the Powerlung never empties the lungs properly. Try it out; breathe out as hard as possible against resistance. Then relax the abdominal muscles after this hard contraction and then breathe more air out and you will feel and will be able to measure how much more is going out after the initial hard expiration.

Airflow, air speed, air pressure, air volume, proper diaphragm contraction, avoiding auxiliary activation and more will only be able to be improved and affected under control with SpiroTiger.


Design and Function

The unique endurance training device for respiratory training consists of a hand held unit with a respiratory pouch and a base station.  The easy to operate monitoring electronics allow you to train safely and in a targeted manner.  In case of regular training, measurable results will be achieved in a matter of a few weeks.


Spirotiger Apparatus

1 The valve technology used in the hand held unit and the respiratory pouch prevent hyperventilation.

2 Personal training target values are entered into the basic unit and serve to monitor the breathing frequency and depth during training.

3 The breathing frequency is paced by a moving light and brief sounds.

4 The display provides instructions such as “breathe faster” and a bar shows the respiration depth.

5 In case of substantial deviations from the ideal training frequency, the SpiroTiger® issues optical and acoustical warnings.

6 The data collected during a training session are passed by cable to the base station where they are monitored and stored.


Modes of Training (details in brochure):

(See Juerg's training information/discussion in our Forum.)
Download a FaCT Canada Spirotiger training log.

  • Build-up training
  • Regular training
  • Maintenance training in competition
  • Warming up before meets
  • Maintenance training during interruptions
Effects
  • Substantial increase of endurance and performance
  • Improved top performance in all phases of competition
  • Improved metabolic processes
  • Shortened recovery times during and after meets
  • Delayed lactate production
  • Considerable improvement of coordinating capabilities of the respiratory system under stress
  • Energetically efficient breathing under stress
  • Elimination or threshold increase of stress asthma
  • Longer and therefore improved oxygen supply to the skeletal muscles, also under stress
  • Complement to or partial replacement of interval training
  • Additional training that is non-stressful to the heart and cardiovascular system
  • Personal control of performance development

... let the "Power of the SpiroTiger" convince you.

"I did a VO2Max treadmill test earlier this week on my rollerski and I found it interesting that even at my max I did not feel that I was breathing hard. I have definitely improved greatly from the Spirotiger training. In addition my training with the Spirotiger is a great complement to the work with the Compex because again my core gets targeted."
- Chris Klebl (world class paraplegic cross-country skier) www.chrisklebl.com


Spirotiger in Case

University of Arizona Study shows clearly that trained cyclists improved their time trial performance by 4.7% (2 min faster in a 45 min TT) after twenty 45 min respiratory training sessions.

The Italian Cross-Country National Team Spirotiger Gold at Turin.

Di Centa Spirotger Gold in 50km at Turin.

Other Athletes/Teams Testimonials

Other Literature

For more information click here to go to the manufacturer's site.

Click here to download an informational brochure (pdf file).


Prices in Canadian Dollars

SpiroTiger complete unit

Spirotiger CaseIncludes storage/carrying case and operating manual. Ships with three bags (2L, 3L, 4L or your choice, see size choices below). Includes both a mouthpiece and a mask (see below) for breathing with nose and mouth together.

Note: As part of our service we offer unlimited free technical support for our products via email and telephone. Initial telephone consultation (30-60min) is included with each Spirotiger purchased online. Let us know when you receive your Spirotiger and Juerg will arrange to call you to guide you through the breathing technique and training.

A free respiratory resistance (strength) training device is included with your purchase of the Spirotiger set.

You also qualify for a discount on a Spiropet Spirometer or an Oximeter if purchased along with your Spirotiger.

$995

Enter 3 Bag sizes:

Include Spiropet:

Include Oximeter:

Spirotiger ships to North America and select locations only. If you are outside North America call or email before ordering.

Spirotiger User Set (Includes 3 bags)

Spirotiger User SetAllows more than one user to share the SpiroTiger main unit.  Great for team use.  For example: purchase of one complete Spirotiger unit plus 4 user sets would accomodate 5 athletes. Includes both a mouthpiece and mask.

$169

Enter 3 Bag sizes:

Spirotiger Replacement Ventilation Bags

Breathing bags in various sizes (latex).
0.5L, 1.0L, 1.5L, 2.0L, 2.5L, 3.0L, 4L, 5L

Spirotiger Ventilation Bags

$19.95
    Item:        Quantity:
  0.5 L Bag    
  1.0 L Bag    
  1.5 L Bag    
  2.0 L Bag    
  2.5 L Bag    
  3.0 L Bag    
  4.0 L Bag    
  5.0 L Bag    
    

Spirotiger Latex Free Replacement Ventilation Bags

Presently available in 1.0L, 2.0L, 3.0L and 5.0L only.

$39.95 ($49.95 for 5L)
    Item:        Quantity:
  1.0 L Bag    
  2.0 L Bag    
  3.0 L Bag    
  5.0 L Bag    
    

Spirotiger MouthpieceSpirotiger Replacement Mouthpiece

$14.95

Quantity:

Spirotiger Replacement Mask
Mask allows more comfortable, natural breathing with both mouth and nose.

Spirotiger breathing maskMask on Spirotiger

$14.95

Quantity:

Bacterial-Viral Filter
Fits between the mouthpiece and breathing tubes. Prevents the passage of bacterial and viral pathogens. Great if you wish to demo the Spirotiger.

Bacterial Viral FilterBacterial Viral Filter on Spiro

$14.95

Quantity:

SpiroPet Spirometer

Spiropet SpirometerSpiropet is a completely new product. It can measure forced vital capacity (lung volume) so you can track changes resulting from your Spirotiger training. Also use it to accurately determine rebreathing bag size you should be able to use with the Spirotiger.

Click for more details and pricing.

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