WellO2: Counter pressure steam breathing helps with Voice Symptoms
Training with a counter pressure steam breathing device has the potential to improve voice quality, as revealed in a recent pilot study in Finland. A report on the study was published in Journal of Voice, a peer-reviewed publication regarded as the world's premiere journal for voice medicine and research.
The protocol of another study, now investigating benefits of using WellO2, a unique counter pressure steam breathing device, with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary symptoms, has been approved by the ethical committee of the University of Tampere. Both studies focus on the effects of the combination of the inspiratory and expiratory muscle training with warm steam.
Voice professionals have found help
Even before the Finnish study came out, various renown voice professionals have been using WellO2 to help with their voice problems. Among the artists is Uriah Heep’s lead singer Bernie Shaw, who has warmly endorsed WellO2 (see links, below).
The aim of the Finnish pilot study was to determine the efficacy of the 4-week breathing exercise intervention on participants with voice symptoms. Six non-smoking women, mean age 49, experiencing voice symptoms made respiratory muscle exercises for a month with counter pressure on both inspiration and expiration and with warm steam. Speech samples were acoustically measured and perceptually analyzed using the GRBAS, the grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia and strain scale. Afterwards, perceived voice symptoms and self-reported effort in breathing and phonation were analyzed.
Participants: Breathing was significantly less effortful
The total score of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and some of its subcomponents, namely shimmer and harmonic-to-noise ratio, and the perceptually evaluated grade, roughness, and strain indicated significantly improved voice quality. However, neither the nature or frequency of the experienced voice symptoms nor the perceived phonatory effort changed as the function of intervention. According to the participants, their breathing was significantly less effortful after the intervention, although no significant changes were observed in the objective respiratory measurements with a spirometer.
According to the study, training with the WellO2 device has the potential to improve voice quality. However, the effects of using WellO2 need to be confirmed by further studies with a larger number of participants, the pilot study concluded.
New studies with WellO2 and chronic obstructive pulmonary symptoms
The ethical committee of the University of Tampere recently gave a positive statement for the clinical study of WellO2 with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary symptoms. The team is testing the effect of WellO2 device for the respiratory muscle exercises that provides counter pressure. There are several hundreds of referred studies on steam inhalation and counter pressure breathing. None have found any severe side effects for using such devices.
Patented WellO2 counter pressure steam breathing device was developed by Hapella Oy, Finland. The device has been available since 2016 as a non-medical device. Over 35 000 devices have been sold in Finland, alone. It is sold both in pharmacies and other stores, like electric commodity store chain of Elgiganten in Sweden and Elkjøp in Norway. Wello2 is available on e-commerce, also at various Amazon e-stores, e.g. in Italy and Germany.
Medical references, links & more info:
www.wello2.com
More:
Why respiratory training is important - interview with professor Sovijärvi (podcast)
https://soundcloud.com/wello2podcast/why-respiratory-training-is-important-interview-with-professor-sovijarvi
Links and references
Effects of Humidification of the Vocal Tract and Respiratory Muscle Training in Women With Voice Symptoms—A Pilot study; Huttunen, K. and Rantala, L., Journal of Voice 2019 (in press).
https://www.jvoice.org/article/S0892-1997(19)30212-7/abstract
University of Oulu repository
http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe2019090526947
The lead singer of Uriah Heep, Bernie Shaw, on using WellO2
https://youtu.be/G3tyvI408ho
About WellO2
Good breathing is the foundation of a good life and a fundamental right of every human being. Our Nordic heritage - the fresh air of the northern wilderness and the moist of steamy sauna - are the basis of our happiness and natural wellbeing. Based on our healthcare expertise, we have understood how better breathing improves our daily lives. That is why we are committed to help people breathe better so they can enjoy their lives to the fullest. Wherever they live. WellO2 is a non-medical device that utilizes the globally patented method. The method supports overall well-being by strengthening breathing with resisted breathing exercises and cleansing the lungs with warm steam. WellO2 has developed by experts in the fields of health care, wellness and technology. The innovative solution combines the latest scientific research and technological innovations into non-medical respiratory therapy. The solutions have been tested in a hospital environment and benefits has been proven as part of clinical treatments as well as demanding endurance training by top athletes. Over 60 000 people has chosen to breathe better with the help of WellO2. WellO2 users have shared with us how their general health and well-being has increased with a daily 5 min training routine using the WellO2 lung capacity exercises and steambreathing. Those who have benefited from using WellO2 are: ✔️ People suffering from breathing problems ✔️People suffering from bad air quality ✔️ Elderly ✔️ Athletes and active people ✔️ Singers and voice professionals Read more: wello2.com
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