Debunk the Lung Volume Myth, Please...

[ShallowGuy]

So, I went through many posts on topic here and on different sites and I see a lot of advice on improving lungs volume.

In his book, Umberto Pelizzari, claims that it is a common mistake to think lungs volume may be increased. According to his statement we can increase it (physically) only during the teen age, when we still grow. Later on we can only improve the way we utilize our lungs.

It was kind of sad statement as I'm 31, just starting, and it looks like there are limitations I will never break even by hard work.

Some other article I've read was claiming that lungs volume actually decrease and by the age of 30 is 20% smaller. Now, this is even more disappointing news for a late starters.

Yet, some articles claim cardio will actually increase the volume of your lungs.

I'm not planning to become a word class freediver of course, but knowing there are limitations never to be broken upsets me a little bit.

So my question is: is it possible to increase physical size of the lungs at any time (by that I mean for example from 4 to 6 litres) at any age or not?

Thanks

 

[kevtron]

I've seen this said around as well. But I personally think it is possible to increase your Total Lung Capacity. The main way to do this would be to work on diaphragm and intercostal stretching. If you're able to expand your lungs more, it seems that more air can also fit in; thereby increasing your TLC.

 

[martin366]

:thankyou

I've seen this said around as well. But I personally think it is possible to increase your Total Lung Capacity. The main way to do this would be to work on diaphragm and intercostal stretching. If you're able to expand your lungs more, it seems that more air can also fit in; thereby increasing your TLC.

Not just TLC but also VC.
I measured my VC almost year ago, it was 6,7L and with slight packing 7,4L
Soon i will go and measure what one year of moderate training has done to my VC and packing.

 

[maui400]

It is possible to increase lung capacity. Check this out.

 

[esom]

"Lungvolume" is a "doing".
freedivers and other selfconcious beings prove this every day, some in a more some in a less beautiful way.

 

[kevtron]

Not just TLC but also VC.
I measured my VC almost year ago, it was 6,7L and with slight packing 7,4L
Soon i will go and measure what one year of moderate training has done to my VC and packing.

Of course also true. The more flexible your diaphragm the deeper you can go before failure depth. Packing of course helps that as well, though I personally don't see a reason after hearing my instructor trainer talk about Jarmila Slovencikova bombing down to 92m without packing at all.

It is possible to increase lung capacity. Check this out.

Very cool. Thanks for this!

 

[cdavis]

Great example of a physical fact ( max lung volume) being misinterpreted. Once you reach full growth, there is a physical limit to lung size, determined by the size and shape of your ribcage. But what is ignored is that nearly everybody can't access their max lung volume because they are too stiff. Stretch, practice, loosen up and voila, almost everybody can substantially increase their effective lung volume. As to the amount, depends on the diver. When I was younger and went on long intense spearfishing trips, my lung volume used to increase almost a liter (measured by the amount of weight I needed) over a week or so. That's just diving, I didn't know zip about stretching, or much else,at the time.

Remember, lung volume for most divers is not a very important measure.
Good technique is far far more important. It is quite possible to dive longer with much less than a lungful if you use the correct technique.

Connor

 

[efattah]

Like Connor said, your ribcage and physiology impose an upper limit to your lung volume, and if you are untrained, your current lung volume is probably barely half your maximum.

While packing can drastically increase the amount of air you take in, and 'pack stretches' can increase it even further, these are both very dangerous.

If you choose to dive without packing then the best exercise I found to increase lung capacity is 'nadi shodhana' pranayama (alternate nostril breathing in 10:40:20 ratio).

However, realize like Connor said that lung capacity doesn't play a big role for performance. Consider that I have done statics of 8.5 minutes with 11L of air and 6.5 minutes with 5.5L of air, so doubling my lung volume increase my breath hold time by 30%. When diving for 'fun' just to look at stuff, my safe depth limit is around 53m with 11L and 40m with 5.5L, an increase of 32%.

 

[ShallowGuy]

Some great answers here, thank you guys.

Eric, going from 5.5l to 11l sounds really impressive.

I will look into yoga. I do my stretching and a little of diaphragm exercises. As for packing - I will introduce them perhaps once I'm advanced, for now I'm fine with what I have.

I did my dry static recently to over 5 minutes, I still feel there is a huge margin to go with my tiny lungs.

maui400 - thanks for a link