[Harp-L] Re: Help wanted for Harmonica Medical/Scientific Study

[Jim Rossen <jimjimdr@xxxxxxxxx>]

John-

I applaud your project to investigate harmonica playing as a means of
maintaining or improving pulmonary function.  Have your studies shown
any effect of playing on pulmonary function/physiology?

What is the rationale for using harmonica instead of an incentive
spirometer or similar device?

I wonder if harmonica playing could improve pulmonary physiology by a
mechanism other than improved bellows function.   Could the repeated
acceleration of air that occurs with harmonica (perhaps more than with
a spirometer) possibly improve pulmonary clearance of particulate?  In
that case, maybe significant benefit would be observed only in people
with a big particulate load (or reduced pulmonary clearance?), like
smokers.

Jim R