How to Use an Incentive Spirometer

Any serious illness or injury can affect your lungs and breathing — even if the condition is in a different organ or part of the body. This is because when you spend more time in bed, it can be tough to take deep breaths like you normally would. 

But filling your lungs up with air is an important way to keep our lungs healthy. And an incentive spirometer is a simple medical device that helps you do that. Here we discuss when you may need one, how to use it, and where to find one.

What is the purpose of an incentive spirometer?

An incentive spirometer can help keep your lungs strong — or make them stronger — after an injury or illness. It’s a simple device that helps you to take deep breaths in and out. Opening your lungs fully with an incentive spirometer can help:

• Prevent fluid and germs from building up, protecting them from infections like pneumonia

• Clear secretions and mucus from your lungs

• Improve airflow in and out of your lungs

• Improve the oxygen level in your blood

• Strengthen the muscles you use to breathe 

Situations when an incentive spirometer might be useful include:

• After surgery

• During bed rest 

• Rib injury, especially a broken rib

• Pneumonia 

• Lung conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF)

• Medical conditions that make it harder for a person to breathe because of chest pain, such as sickle cell disease

• Medical conditions that affect chest wall muscle strength, like Parkinson’s disease

How do you use an incentive spirometer?

First, it helps to get familiar with the device. An incentive spirometer is made of clear plastic. It’s basically an upright tube with a mouthpiece attached at the bottom. 

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On the tube part of the spirometer, you’ll see lines and numbers. On the inside of the tube is a disk. This rises as you take a deep breath with your mouth around the mouthpiece. On the outside, there’s a marker that can slide up and down the main chamber. This will mark your goal for how high you want the disk to rise. 

The side of the spirometer has an indicator. This is a ball that rises in a chamber. How quickly the ball rises corresponds to how fast you breathe in. The goal is to keep the indicator in the target range, which is shown by two lines or arrows.

Here are the basic steps for using an incentive spirometer:

1. To begin, sit upright in a bed or chair. 

2. Hold the spirometer with both hands. 

3. Exhale with or without your mouth around the mouthpiece. 

4. Put your mouth around the mouthpiece. 

5. Take a slow deep breath in. The piston and the ball in the side chamber will rise and hover. Try to position the piston at your goal marker.

6. Once you’ve inhaled fully, hold your breath 3-5 seconds or for as long as you can. The piston will slowly drop and reach the bottom of the main chamber.

7. Breathe out slowly and fully through your nose with or without the mouthpiece in your mouth. 

Sometimes, an incentive spirometer has three different colored balls — in this case, you’ll want to deeply and slowly inhale and try to get all three balls to rise at the same time.

How often should you use an incentive spirometer?

This depends on the reason you’re using it, and it may change throughout the course of your treatment. Usually, you’ll want to repeat the above steps 10 times every 1 to 2 hours while you’re awake during the day. It’s normal for your target goal to change, as well.

And don’t be discouraged if it feels challenging or if you can’t reach your target at first. Like any exercise, it should start to feel easier with practice.

What are your goal numbers with an incentive spirometer?

Your doctor, nurse, or respiratory therapist will talk with you about your goal numbers when you start using an incentive spirometer. Your goal will depend on the reason you’re using it, and it may change over time. 

The goal can also differ based on height and age. For instance, a young child can’t take as big of a breath as an adult. And an older person can’t take as large of a breath as someone younger because they might not have as much chest muscle strength.

Where can you get an incentive spirometer?

Many pharmacies carry them, and different models may be available. If you’re not sure which one may be best for you, ask for help. Try asking the pharmacist, your respiratory therapist, or your doctor before you purchase one.

Incentive spirometers may be available without a prescription, but your insurance may cover the cost if you have a prescription. If you’re in the hospital after surgery, you’ll probably get one there to take home with you. And you can continue to use your incentive spirometer at home as you heal.

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Written by:

Cherilyn Davis, MD

Cherilyn Davis, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. She has held local and national roles at the American Medical Women’s Association including board member of the physician division and physician chair of social media.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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