None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to investigate the effects of a 4-week Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) program on speech and swallowing in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who have undergone Deep Brain Stimulation to the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS). While EMST has shown benefits in PD populations, its impact following STN-DBS has not yet been explored. Twenty-four eligible participants will complete pre- and post-intervention testing, with home-based EMST sessions conducted five times per week. Outcome measures will include speech, voice, and swallowing assessments, alongside quality of life and cognitive screening. Results will be analysed using linear mixed models to evaluate the effectiveness of EMST in improving communication-related outcomes in this population.
Interventions
The device that will be used for Expiratory Muscle strength Training (EMST) will be the EMST150 (Aspire Products, Gainesville, FL, USA). During the initial face-to-face session, participants will be instructed in proper technique. To use the device, participants will place their lips tightly around the mouthpiece to form a secure seal. The training level with the EMST150 will be set to approximately 75% of each participant's maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and will be individually adapted usin
The device that will be used for Expiratory Muscle strength Training (EMST) will be the EMST150 (Aspire Products, Gainesville, FL, USA). During the initial face-to-face session, participants will be instructed in proper technique. To use the device, participants will place their lips tightly around the mouthpiece to form a secure seal. The training level with the EMST150 will be set to approximately 75% of each participant's maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and will be individually adapted using the EMST150 to determine the optimal resistance level. The MEP is done by taking a deep breath and exhaling out through the device intensively. This process is repeated until there is no air coming out from the device. This is a similar level of exertion as blowing out candles as hard as possible. The resistance in the EMST150 ranges from 30–150H2O and can be adjusted in intervals of 30H2O. The 4-week training program for the therapy group will be conducted in the participants’ homes following written instructions provided by the research team. This training program has been used elsewhere (Claus et al., 2021). Each at-home training session will involve 25 forceful exhalations using the EMST150 device. Participants will begin each exercise with a deep inhalation, followed by a forceful exhalation lasting a few seconds. After each exhalation, they will rest briefly. The exercise will comprise five exhalations, followed by a rest period of at least 15–30 seconds. This sequence will be repeated until the participants complete a total of 25 exhalations. Training sessions will be scheduled five times a week, and participants will use a paper-based journal to document session completions to ensure compliance with the training protocol. The participants will be instructed to continue day-to-day life as normal.
Sponsors
Australian Catholic University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
50 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
clinically diagnosed with idiopathic PD; aged between 50 and 75 years; undergone bilateral STN-DBS surgery no less than 12 months earlier; independently living within the community, able to speak English and free of any signs of dementia (score of 88 and above on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination).
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded if they are undertaking concurrent weekly speech pathology therapy sessions.
Outcome results
None listed