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Expiratory Muscle Training in Parkinson's Disease With Forward Trunk Flexion

NCT07268703 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 28

Last updated 2025-12-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Postural abnormalities (PA) negatively affecting the axial system are part of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). They occur in more than 20% of patients with PD especially in more advanced stages of the disease, contribute significantly to patient disability, affect respiratory functions, and reduce quality of life. Eighty-five percent of patients with forward trunk flexion (FTF) reported difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia), shortness of breath, and drooling. Previous studies in patients with PD also identified cough disorders (dystussia). Since cough and properly functioning swallowing are key mechanisms for airway protection, impairments in these functions lead to a higher risk of aspiration. The seriousness of this problem is clearly confirmed by the fact that aspiration pneumonia is the leading cause of death in patients with PD.

Among non-pharmacological interventions for airway protection, expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) has been shown to be beneficial in patients with PD. Recent randomized controlled studies demonstrated a significant effect of EMST on dysphagia, dystussia, drooling, and dysarthria in patients with PD.

However, the literature lacks data on the effect of EMST on dystussia in patients with PD and FTF, who, according to previous research, are also affected by restrictive ventilatory impairment, which negatively affects respiratory capacity and, in particular, cough strength.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of EMST on cough, swallowing, respiratory muscle strength, and drooling in patients with PD and forward trunk flexion.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Expiratory muscle strength training

Participants will perform a 4-week Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) program using the EMST150™ device. EMST therapy sessions will be completed at home on 5 days per week, at the participant's convenience, performing five sets of five forceful exhalations through the device. The resistance of the device will be set to 75% of the patient's individual maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). The daily training will take approximately 15 minutes. Device resistance will be recalibrated at visits in weeks 0, 2, and 4 to ensure correct training and settings.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • General University Hospital, Prague

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-12-31
Primary Completion
2026-03-31
Completion
2026-05-31

Countries

  • Czechia

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07268703 on ClinicalTrials.gov