Wara Samar
11th June 2025
Want to Claw Back a Decade of Fitness? Pro2Health Says Start with Your Breathing Muscles
When we talk about fitness or longevity, people usually mention cardio, strength training, or diet. But almost no one thinks about their breathing muscles. That’s a huge miss.
Robert Bouthillier, Mike Zelina and Ken Chatham, are Co-Founders of Pro2Health, and they built a team who are on a mission to change that with Pro2FIT, a connected device and app that helps users train their inspiratory muscles—the same way you’d exercise muscles in your arms or legs. Backed by clinical research and now used in 16 countries, the system is already gaining traction among elite athletes, long-COVID patients, and physical therapy clinics.
According to Robert, it all began a decade ago when he met Ken Chatham, a respiratory physiotherapist from the UK who had developed a device that could significantly improve VO2Max in as little as six to eight weeks. Chatham’s invention, supported by numerous peer-reviewed clinical trials, effectively reversed a decade of decline in respiratory endurance for many users. Impressed by the data, Robert reached out to Mark Cuban, describing it as “weight-lifting for your breathing muscles.” Cuban’s response was swift: people needed education before adoption and marketing muscle to match. That initial feedback helped shape the launch of Pro2Health, which went on to refine the product, build a user-friendly app, secure patents, and introduce the enhanced Pro2FIT system to the market.
So what exactly is inspiratory muscle training, and why does it matter more than most people realize?
Why Breathing Muscles Deserve More Respect
“When we breathe, inhaling is active and uses our muscles. It’s not just our lungs doing the work,” Robert explains. “It’s a coordinated effort from the diaphragm and intercostals—muscles that weaken with age or inactivity.” And that decline starts earlier than you might think. After age 30, our maximum breathing capacity begins dropping by about 1% a year.
That might not sound like much, but over decades, it adds up—impacting not just your workouts, but basic activities like climbing stairs or carrying groceries. This leads to frailty and it can be avoided.
For athletes, the benefits are immediate and performance-driven: better oxygen delivery, reduced fatigue, and improved endurance. For older adults, it’s about preserving independence and quality of life.
“You don’t realise how much breathing affects your ability to function until it starts limiting you,” says Robert.
Even Dr. Peter Attia, in Outlive, names VO2Max—the maximum oxygen your body can use during exercise—as the top indicator for healthspan. And inspiratory muscle strength is a key factor in that equation.
Also Read: Cohort Announced: MedTech Innovator’s 2025 Startups to Present at MedTech World Bay Area, June 26–27
Meet Pro2FIT: Like a Gym, But for Your Lungs
Pro2FIT pairs a small device with a smart app on your phone or tablet. The idea is simple: you exhale fully, then inhale through the device with as much inspiratory strength as possible. The app captures and displays your effort in real time, showing metrics, tracking improvements and guiding you through structured protocols.
“It’s weight training for your lungs,” Robert says. “Most users see measurable improvements in 6 to 8 weeks.”
And it’s not just for solo use. The system supports multiple users, making it suitable for clinics, families, or training teams. A cloud platform allows for seamless data access via both app and web portal, so you’re never in the dark about your progress.
Pro2FIT’s credibility is also rooted in science: more than 30 published studies (including the latest one showing the benefit of using the device with Telehealth for improving COPD) and adoption by institutions like Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
From Athletes to Older Adults: Who’s Using It—and Why?
For Athletes
Endurance sports demand optimal oxygen efficiency. Pro2FIT helps athletes train their breathing muscles just like any other group—building strength, reducing breathlessness, and improving performance.
For Older Adults
As we age, breathing becomes harder, but it doesn’t have to. Inspiratory muscle training can help maintain or even improve VO2Max, helping people remain active, independent, and more resilient to illness or fatigue.
“We’ve seen older users who have falls due to what respiratory therapists call “rubber legs” or those struggling with basic tasks of daily living, regain their independence and their confidence to move more,” says Robert. “That’s powerful.”
Breathing New Life into Healthspan
What makes Pro2FIT stand out isn’t just the tech; it’s accessibility. Whether you’re training for a marathon or just want to keep up with your grandkids, the system is easy to use, affordable, and grounded in measurable results.
Robert puts it plainly: “This isn’t a gimmick. It’s a fundamental piece of your health that most people ignore until they can’t afford to.”
Could Your Startup Be MedTech’s Next Breakout Story?
If you’re building in healthtech and looking to raise your profile, secure funding, or meet the right investors, MedTech Malta 2025 is the place to be. From 12 to 14 November, this flagship event brings together global leaders across diagnostics, digital health, medical devices, and therapeutics, all scouting the next wave of innovation.
Whether you’re scaling or just stepping onto the scene, this is your moment to pitch, connect, and gain traction. Book your ticket now and move closer to meaningful partnerships and tangible results.
Have questions? We’re here to help: [email protected].
