Disassembly and Care of the EMST
150
The only removable part of the trainer is the mouthpiece.
The remaining parts of the trainer do not dissemble. Never attempt to take the rest of your EMST 150 trainer apart. To remove the mouthpiece from the trainer, pull gently until loosened.
We strongly recommend the trainer’s mouth piece be cleaned weekly. Since this trainer is for sole use only, warm water and mild soap can be used to rinse the mouthpiece.
Do not place in the dishwasher or microwave. Air dry before re-using.
The trainer should not be shared with any other person. Life of the trainer will be based on actual usage and on appropriate cleansing. Harmful cleaning agents such as bleach and ultrasonic cleaning are not recommended.
Extreme heat is also harmful to the trainer. Always keep the trainer in a clean place.
Keep trainer and all removable parts away from small children. Small pieces can be swallowed!
YOUR EMST
150
Training with the EMST150 has been proven to improve breathing and swallowing function as well as quality of life and physical fitness. For optimal results, seek advice from your doctor or therapist and exercise only as directed.
Please keep these instructions in a safe place!
The EMST150 TM is a product of
Aspire LLC
925B Peachtree St NE Suite 333
Atlanta GA 30309, USA
„EMST150 TM “ is a protected trademark of Aspire LLC and is used with permission.
Exclusive distribution in D, A, CH, B & NL:
armadillo GbR
Brunssumstraße 21b, 52074 Aachen, Germany www.armadillo-medtec.de • [email protected]
www.emst150.de
Please consult your doctor before using if...:
•You are or suspect being pregant
•You have untreated hypertension
•You had a recent stroke
•You suffer from elevated intracranial or intra-ocular pressure
•Have cardiac problems or abnormalities
•You have asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive lung disease
•You have a history of collapsed lung
•You had head/neck surgery or suffered a trauma
•You have untreated gastroesophageal reflux
•You had esophageal surgery
•You have a ruptured drum or recent ear surgery
•Valsalva-like maneuvers might be detrimental for your health for some reason.
Get instructions from your doctor or therapist before training with the EMST
150
!
EC Certificate No. 38774-2008-CE-NOR 2.0
EMST150-Manual v3.0EN - 08/2019
TRAINING
WITH THE
EMST
150
„TAKE
FIVE
!“
FIVE WEEKS TO SUCCESS
YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL
CONTENTS
Rotary knob
Calibrated scale
Comfort
Mouthpiece
Nose clip
INSTRUCTIONS
Turning the knob clockwise (to the right) increases the resistance of the valve, making exhalation through the valve more difficult. Counterclockwise (left) rotation causes the valve to loosen, making exhalation easier. The position of the small metal screw at the bottom of the knob indicates the expiratory pressure required to open the valve.
Metal screw
TIP: Perform the training if you can take enough time and are not tired. The training takes about 20 - 30 minutes per day.
It is recommended to train at the same time every day. EMST training can be done while standing or sitting, but we recommend a seated position for greater comfort.
Remember that in the first week, you should train 5 days a week with the same setting, and only then adjust the resistance further.
T R A I N I N G W I T H T H E E M ST 1 5 0
BEFORE TRAINING: DETERMINE YOUR MAXIMUM EXPIRATORY PRESSURE
First, the maximum exhalation pressure (ADmax) must be determined.
This can easily be done using the EMST device itself. To do this, please perform the following steps:
1. Close your nose with the enclosed nose clip.
2. Turn the small metal screw on the knob so it aligns with the number
30 on the scale.
3. Take a deep breath. Fix the EMST mouthpiece in your mouth behind your teeth and loosely enclose the mouthpiece with your lips. Do not exhale until the mouthpiece has been positioned securely .
4. Exhale quickly and vigorously through the device. Stop when the air has audibly escaped from the device and the valve has opened.
5. If you were able to easily perform steps 1-4, turn the knob clockwise a quarter of a turn and repeat steps 1-4.
6. If you can no longer pass the exhaled air through the valve, turn the knob back about a quarter of a turn and try again until the valve opens. This is your final setting.
Once you have thus found the right exppiration resistance, leave this setting for your first week of training.
Write down the value and date for further reference!
Continue turning the knob clockwise and back a little, if necessary, until you are unable to move air through the device easily. When you arrive at this point, you have reached your maximum pressure (ADmax) you are able to create.
FIRST WEEK OF TRAINING
Now that you have determined your maximum expiratory strength we are ready to get started making you stronger. First, turn the knob 1⁄4 turn counterclockwise from where you determined your maximum expiratory strength. The reason we do this is because we want to start training your muscles at about 75% of your maximum strength.
WEEK 2 UNTIL WEEK 5
At the end of training Week 1, move the knob on the device a quarter turn clockwise (90°) and begin training for Week 2.
If you feel you can turn the knob to a higher level, then do so, but remember: air must move freely through the device without extreme effort.
In weeks 2,3,4 and 5, continue training as described.
Stop training if you feel uncomfortable or dizzy!
Each week, note the new value you trained with. This will help you and your therapist to track your progress.
WEEK 1: STEPS TO YOUR TRAINING
1. Place the noseclips on your nose.
2. Take a deep breath in, do not breathe out.
3. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth, behind your teeth, securing your lips tightly around it, holding / pressing the sides of your cheeks if needed.
4. Breathe out hard and fast using your chest and stomach muscles to push air through the device. This breathing effort should only last a couple seconds for the air to move through.
5. Rest for a minimum of 15-30 seconds. Do not skip resting in between breaths. Your muscles need time to prepare for the next set.
6. REPEAT this exercise 5 times (steps 1-5). Then you need a minute break. We call this a 5-breath trial .
7. After the 1 minute break, do another 5-breath trial (steps 1-5). Take another 1 minute break.
8. You need to do five 5-breath trials for a total of 25 training breaths per day.
9. If you feel lightheaded at anytime during the exercise, stop and discontinue.
10. Record the date and time the exercises were completed.
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
After the 5 weeks of training have been completed, you can continue to train at the final setting you achieved in Week 5 in order to prevent de-training and loss of function.
During the Maintenance Program you will train 3 days per week, 25 breaths into the device.
Over the course of the Maintenance Program if you feel the knob can be turned to a higher level, then do so.
But again, always remember training with the device should never cause extreme breathing effort or fatigue.
We wish you lots of success and fun with your EMST150!
