How to Use a Manual Incentive Spirometer

When you use an incentive spirometer, you'll breathe in air through a tube that is connected to a large air column containing a piston or ball. As you breathe in, the piston or ball inside the column moves up. The height of the piston or ball shows how much air you breathed in.

You may feel lightheaded when you breathe in deeply for this exercise. If you feel dizzy or like you're going to pass out, stop the exercise and rest.

Each time you do this exercise, keep track of your progress by writing down how high the piston or ball moves up the column. This will help you and your doctor know how well your lungs are working.

Step 1: Move the slider

A person moving the slider on a spirometer
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slide 1 of 6, Step 1: Move the slider,

Move the slider on the outside of the large column to the level that you want to reach or that your doctor recommended.

Step 2: Hold the spirometer in front of you

A person holding the spirometer level and out in front of her face
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slide 2 of 6, Step 2: Hold the spirometer in front of you,

Sit or stand up straight, and hold the spirometer in front of you. Be sure to keep it level.

Step 3: Breathe out

A person breathing out normally
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slide 3 of 6, Step 3: Breathe out,

To start, breathe out normally. Then close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece. Make sure that you don't block the mouthpiece with your tongue.

Step 4: Breathe in

A person taking a slow, deep breath
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slide 4 of 6, Step 4: Breathe in,

Take a slow, deep breath. Breathe in as deeply as you can. As you breathe in, the piston or ball inside the large column will move up. Try to move the piston or ball as high up as you can or to the level your doctor recommended. When you can't breathe in anymore, hold your breath for 2 to 5 seconds.

Step 5: Breathe out

A person removing the mouthpiece and breathing out normally
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slide 5 of 6, Step 5: Breathe out,

Relax, remove the mouthpiece, and then breathe out normally.

Repeat steps 1 through 5 as many times as your doctor tells you to. Then go to step 6.

Step 6: Cough

A person coughing to loosen mucus
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slide 6 of 6, Step 6: Cough,

After you've taken the recommended number of breaths, try to cough a few times. This will help loosen any mucus that has built up in your lungs. It will make it easier for you to breathe.

If you just had surgery on your belly or chest, hold a pillow over your incision when you cough. This will support your belly or chest and reduce your pain.

Repeat steps 1 through 6 as many times a day as your doctor tells you to.

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Specialist Medical ReviewerRohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology

Current as ofMarch 25, 2017

Current as of: March 25, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology