Many people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have severely reduced inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength. In addition, they often suffer from obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease and respiratory complications. This can severely impact a patient’s prognosis as well as their quality of life, and it is important to explore ways of combating these issues.

In the study discussed in this blog post, the strengthening of expiratory muscles was tested for its potential in improving maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) in patients with PD.

Key Findings

• Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with respiratory muscle weakness, pulmonary disease and respiratory complications.
• 4 weeks of expiratory muscle training (EMT) increased expiratory muscle strength in PD patients

Patient Impact

RMT effectively increases respiratory muscle strength in PD patients, contributing to better airway defense, ventilation, cough and swallow function.

Study Methods

MEP was assessed in PD patients before and after four weeks of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST), and the results of these measurements were compared to a control group.

Study Results

MEP increased by 27% due to EMST in PD patients.

Strengthening of expiratory muscles by EMST leads to increased and voluntary control of expiratory muscles, reflected by an increase in MEP. This is meaningful as it contributes to generating the force critical for ventilation and airway defense. This, in turn, improves cough, swallow and breathing capacities.

References

Sapienza C, et al. Respiratory Strength Training: Concept and Intervention Outcomes. Sem Speech Lang 2011;32(1):21-30.