LiveO2 Q&A with Tom Butler: Mouth Breathing, Sports Performance, Inversion Tables

LiveO2 Q&A Episode 1: Tom Butler Answers Your Questions

The first ever LiveO2 Q&A. Tom Butler, VP and Partner, answers questions submitted by the LiveO2 community — mouth breathing, sports performance protocols, inversion tables, and more.

Listen to the Episode
Q&A with Tom Butler — Episode 1

Questions Covered in This Episode

Q: How do you think LiveO2 would work for a mouth breather?
Tom addresses this at the 2:33 mark. Mouth breathing changes the dynamics of oxygen delivery — nasal breathing typically produces better blood oxygen saturation. Tom discusses breath training approaches like Buteyko and the Wim Hof method, and how LiveO2 can be used alongside those practices for people working to improve their breathing patterns.
Q: What frequency and programs do you recommend to maximize sports performance?
Covered at 10:20. Tom references high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and Tabata protocols as the most effective formats for combining with LiveO2 for athletic performance gains. He discusses frequency, session structure, and how to progress the protocol over time.
Q: How can LiveO2 combined with an inversion table increase brain function and reduce joint inflammation?
Covered at 19:55. Tom explains how inversion tables change the pressure gradient in the spine and joints — and how adding elevated oxygen at the same time can amplify the anti-inflammatory effect. The combination targets both the structural and metabolic components of joint inflammation.

About the LiveO2 Q&A Series

Tom Butler polls the LiveO2 community on Facebook and in the private “LiveO2 for the People” group to gather real questions from real users. These Q&A episodes are designed to give direct, practical answers — not marketing, not sales pitches.

Tom has worked with hundreds of LiveO2 users as a practitioner. He understands the specific questions that come up when people start using the system and has seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t.

If you have a question for a future episode, reach out to LiveO2 at 970-658-2789 or through the website.

Common Questions

Yes. LiveO2 can be used by mouth breathers — the mask works with both nose and mouth breathing. However, nasal breathing generally delivers better blood oxygen saturation. Tom recommends working on nasal breathing patterns alongside LiveO2 for best results. Buteyko breathing and similar techniques can be practiced between sessions.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) formats — particularly Tabata-style intervals (20 seconds on, 10 seconds off) — produce the strongest adaptive response when combined with LiveO2. Tom discusses frequency recommendations and how to structure a training week for maximum performance gains in this episode.

Joint inflammation is partly driven by hypoxia in connective tissue — cartilage and tendons have poor blood supply and are among the first tissues to become oxygen deficient. LiveO2’s high-oxygen phase pushes dissolved oxygen into these tissues via plasma saturation. The result is reduced inflammatory signaling and improved healing in oxygen-deprived connective tissue.