Scientifically proven

The Del Ferro breath training has been scientifically researched several times. It was concluded that the specific Del Ferro breathing training already gives you the feeling that you have more air and control over your breathing. In order to express the increase in performance in figures, research among athletes has shown that the result in time trails can improve by 2% (running) to 4.6% (cycling).

Experiences with top athletes show that the respiratory- and heart rate can decrease (2 to 5 beats) with submaximal effort and that the power increases with an equal heart rate increases (10 to 20 watts, with cyclists). It may seem like small numbers, but if the differences on the finish line are one hundredths of a second, an increase in performance by a percent makes all the difference between winning or losing.

Neurologist J.C.J. van Hemert, at that time affiliated with the Maria Foundation in Haarlem, was the first to test the Del Ferro Method. After him, the neurosurgeon M.P.A.M. de Grood and the pulmonologist M.C.P.J. Verpalen, both affiliated with the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Tilburg, carried out a second scientific study into the effectiveness of the Del Ferro Method.

During these scientific trials, it was confirmed that hyperventilation can be cured with training using this breathing technique and stress can be eliminated. Also, this breathing technique would have a surprising effect on the condition and provide a faster recovery after athletes make an exertion.

The breathing technique was therefore scientifically investigated with help of a large group of athletes. The question that formed the basis for the scientific research was whether the Del Ferro Method would have a positive influence on the condition. The study concluded that a connection can be made between the faster falling lactic acid level in the blood of people who use this technique and the improvement in fitness with these athletes.

Based on such studies, breath training is endorsed by various sports associations (Athletics Union, the Triathlon Association, Dutch National Swimming Organisation, Dutch National Tennis Organisation, Dutch National Cycling Union). The breathing training is also prescribed for lung rehabilitation and to prevent lung complications during operations.

Breathing is thought of as an automatic process controlled by the brainstem - the part of the brain that controls life supporting functions, such as heart rate and sleep patterns. But new and unique research, where pictures from the brains of people undergoing neurosurgery have been taken, show that breathing can also change your brain.

Basically, changes in breathing, for example breathing at different rates or paying attention to breathing, have shown to activate different parts of the brain.

People’s ability to control and regulate their brains is unique: for example, controlling emotions, deciding to stay awake despite feeling tired or suppressing thoughts. This is in contrast to animals. Respiration is similar: animals do not change their respiratory rate voluntarily; their breathing normally only changes in response to running, resting, etc. Questions that baffled scientists in this context are: why are people able to voluntarily regulate their breathing and how do we access parts of our brain that normally don’t control from our conscious? Furthermore, is there any benefit in our ability to reach and control parts of our brain that are usually inaccessible? Given that many therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma therapy or various types of exercise, such as the training of the respiratory muscle via the Del Ferro method, also focus on regulating and regulating breathing, the question was whether checking breathing was has an effect on behaviour.

This recent study ultimately answers these questions by showing that controlling our breathing provides additional access and synchronization between brain regions. This understanding can lead to more control, focus, calmness and emotional control.

The study, conducted by post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Jose Herrero, in collaboration with Dr. Ashesh Mehta, a renowned neurosurgeon at NorthShore University Hospital in Long Island, began observing brain activity when patients are breathing normally. Patients were then given a simple task of distracting them: clicking a button when circles appeared on the computer screen. This allowed Dr. Herrero to observe what happened when people breathe naturally and do not focus on their breathing. After this, patients were told to consciously increase the rate of breathing and count their breath. When breathing changed during exercises, so did the brain. Essentially, respiratory manipulation activated different parts of the brain, with some overlap at the sites involved in automatic and deliberate breathing.

The findings provide neural support for advice to individuals who have been given for centuries: in times of stress or when increased concentration is needed, focusing on someone’s breathing or doing breathing exercises can indeed change the brain. This is possible when individuals apply this in different professions who require extreme focus and agility. For example, athletes have long been known to use breathing to improve their performance. This research proves the experiences from practice.