Harmonic therapy

Local News

Related Photos

Kevin Goldy

Discussion

May 21, 2009

OLBH Vitality Center uses harmonica as therapy tool

By MIKE JAMES The Daily Independent Thu May 21, 2009, 08:09 AM EDT

RUSSELL — The green-topped oxygen tank rests forgotten in its wheeled rack beside Pat Dail.

A clear plastic tube still channels the life-giving gas to her nostrils, but Dail, 78, isn’t thinking about her damaged lungs.

Instead, she is wailing away on her harmonica, playing “Amazing Grace” along with several other pulmonary patients at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.

Some of the others have oxygen tanks, too. All of them suffer from chronic lung diseases that make breathing a chore. They have taken up harmonica lessons to strengthen their muscles and make breathing easier.

“It really helps. And it gives you a hobby,” Dail said.

That’s the beauty of this new pulmonary therapy program at OLBH. Playing the harmonica duplicates the same functions of other therapeutic instruments and techniques, but it’s more fun, said pulmonologist Michael Ehrie.

It trains the respiratory muscles — the dome-shaped diaphragm beneath the lungs and associated muscles in the neck and ribcage — so the patients can inhale and exhale better, Ehrie said.

Basic harmonica technique involves using these muscles to blow into a small orifice, the same as other, more prosaic instruments. Also, therapists teach the patients to breathe out with pursed lips — just like a harmonica player.

It’s a new program at OLBH, although an established therapy technique.

Pulmonary nurse Jean Bowling had learned of harmonica therapy several years ago but it was just this year she discovered a harmonica teacher, Lewis Wyatt, almost right in front of her at the hospital’s Vitality Center.

Wyatt, who has been a lung patient, was working out at the center when he asked, in an offhand way, whether she thought his playing the harmonica would help his lungs. Bowling immediately invited him to teach other patients to play.

There are about 28 patients who take part, some of them so enthusiastically that they practice at home. They range in age up from 40, the eldest being 86.

All of them suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an umbrella term for emphysema, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and others. The diseases destroy lung cells, making it difficult to breathe. About 80 percent of them use supplementary oxygen.

Breathing with disease-ravaged lungs is hard work, said Phil Boggs, 62, who attributes his troubles to 45 years of cigarettes.

“It’s like if you ran up a hill, you would be panting,” he said. The difference is, patients with damaged lungs get out of breath from slight exertion and it takes longer to get their breath back, Boggs said.

Playing the harmonica won’t regenerate lung tissue, but strengthening the muscles makes breathing easier, Bowling said. It’s a quality of life improvement, greater comfort together with the satisfaction of making music.

“I get a lot of requests whenever I get my harmonica out. I go ahead and play anyway,” jokes Jack Godwin, 78. Then, more seriously, “Anytime you do something to exercise your lungs, it helps,” he said.

The program has the potential to cut hospital stays by 75 percent, Ehrie said. “It keeps them out of the hospital and in the home and it saves money,” he said.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

Text Only

Local News

Business touts better living
Yvette Pennington is a true believer in the power of living better as we live longer.

February 8, 2012
Police beat: 2/9/12
The following information was taken from Ashland Police Department reports:

February 8, 2012
Safe Harbor benefits from Shop and Share Day
Shop and Share Day brought a record number of donations to Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky.

February 8, 2012
Local briefs: 2/9/12
For the fifth year in a row, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has given the Southern Ohio Medical Center Cancer Center funding to support the Hands of Hope grant program.

February 8, 2012
Judge's ruling paralyzes General Assembly
Confusion reigns in the wake a judge’s ruling that state redistricting maps passed by the General Assembly are unconstitutional. That ruling says until the legislature offers a plan which meets constitutional muster, 2012 candidates for the legislature must run in the districts drawn 10 years ago.

February 8, 2012
10 most romantic hotels in the U.S.
Valentine’s Day will be here soon, and a romantic getaway may be just what the heart needs. TripAdvisor has released its list of the 10 most romantic hotels in the country, based on travelers’ reviews about the beautiful scenery, friendly staffs and romantic amenities like hot tubs and fireplaces.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Search for new ACTC president to begin soon
A national search will begin soon to replace Ashland Community and Technical College President Gregory D. Adkins, who is retiring.

February 8, 2012
Red Tails recommended
With sincere appreciation to their hosts, local military veterans whose service spanned World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan gathered at Kyova 10 Theatre late Tuesday afternoon for a screening of the film “Red Tails.”

February 8, 2012
More updates coming to Boyd jail
While a nonfunctional fire alarm system has been fixed, the Boyd County Detention Center is now dealing with problems in another of its security systems.

February 8, 2012
APD probes early morning stabbing
Ashland police are investigating a stabbing in the area of 30th Street and Greenup Avenue early Tuesday morning.

February 7, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Harmonic therapy

OLBH Vitality Center uses harmonica as therapy tool

Site Map

Contact Us