How to improve lung function quickly

kkndcf

Hello guys,

I am currently in the final stages of the medical process after being given a conditional offer for a fire service in England. On the nurse part of my medical I blew a little below what they expected on the lung function test. I am a male that exercises regularly and I am 29 years old.

After receiving this news I have changed my regime in order to get the best result I can on my final medical with the doctor on the 27th. I go to the gym to lift weights every morning before work. After work I either swim, do the insanity workout or go running. With my swimming I do 40 freestyle lengths without breathing (pool is 18m) with 20 second breaks inbetween and then 15 underwater lengths with no breathing with 40 second breaks.

I am also doing breathing exercises while I am driving. I did the lung test today in my local doctors surgery to see how I was doing. I have been told I have "normal ventilatory function" but I am still at the low end of the scale.

Is there anything more I can be doing? I am going to go up Snowdon in Wales on the next two weekends to see if that will help but it is only 1085m.

This is driving me nuts, please help.

Thanks

dschlosser2013

Check out the Breathing Gym. It’s a book designed for musicians to improve breathing technique as well as lung capacity. Being a tuba player, I do these exercises everyday and you will notice a difference.

Unknown

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kkndcf

Thanks mate, they have a video on youtube, I will start with it tomorrow

dodgowan

I play the bagpipes and play underwater hockey so my lung capacity is pretty large. I don't really practice directly for it but I was told that while running to try going as long as possible while only using my nose to breathe. It is a lot harder than it sounds!

Brabo_Grip

dodgowan wrote: »

I play the bagpipes and play underwater hockey

You are already the most interesting person I have met in months.

Brabo_Grip

I'm a fan uphill wind sprints. When I was training for a competition last year someone introduced me to them and I definitely felt a marked difference in my cardio.

mkculs

Just a word of caution—shallow water drowning is a real thing and happens to people holding their breath too long. Those underwater lengths can be dangerous.

AdaptivePerformanceLLC

As you get closer to your test, you want to include more training that resembles the actual test itself. Try to cut out the things that aren't so specific to your goal and you'll see better adaptations in your body for the test itself.

FL_Hiker

Swim free style for as long as you can, don't practice holding your breath particularly underwater however because you can easily drown that way. (Former lifeguard here, saw it a lot with people trying to hold their breath too long). You'll develop greater lung capacity with the swimming workout alone.