Effect of respiratory muscle training on dysphagia in stroke patients—A retrospective pilot study Robert J. Arnold SLPD1| Nina Bausek PhD21Southeastern Biocommunication Associates,LLC, Birmingham, Alabama2Department of Cardiovascular Medicine,Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Correspondence Nina Bausek, Tachenberg 1, 2640 Gloggnitz,Austria.Email: (Email address can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
Abstract Background:Dysphagia is prevalent with cerebrovascular accidents and contributes to the burden of disease and mortality. Strengthening dysfunctional swallow muscles through respiratory muscle training (RMT) has proven effective in improving swallow effectiveness and safety. However, approaches to strengthen only the expiratory muscle groups (EMST) dominate the clinical study literature, with variable outcomes.
This study investigated the effect of simultaneous inspiratory-expiratory muscle strengthening to improve swallowing function in stroke patients.Methods:Recorded data of 20 patients receiving pro bono medical care for dysphagia following stroke were allocated to intervention (IG) or control group(CG) based upon whether they chose combined RMT (cRMT) or not while awaiting swallow therapy services. The intervention group was treated with three 5-minutesessions of resistive respiratory muscle training for 28 days, while the control group received no RMT or other exercise intervention. Respiratory and swallow outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention and included Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA), fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)with penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), functional oral intake scale (FOIS), patient visual analogue scale (VAS), and peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Results:After 28 days, the intervention group demonstrated greater improvements(P value < 0.05) in PEF (IG: 168.03% vs CG: 17.47%), VAS (IG: 103.85% vs CG:27.54%), MASA (IG: 37.28% vs CG: 6.92%), PAS (IG: 69.84% vs CG: 12.12%), andFOIS (IG: 93.75% vs CG: 21.21%).

Conclusion:cRMT is a feasible and effective method to improve signs and symptoms of dysphagia while improving airway protection.

Level of Evidence: This retrospective study was conducted under an IRB waiver granted from Western IRB.

Nigel, I found this article on the onlinelibrary.wiley,com site. The study was not conducted in PD community but does show effectiveness in the stroke population.

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member...the very definition of progressive...I could also post about how my eyesight varies according to where I am in my meds cycle...I don't notice it so much as I've worn glasses since I was ten, but my optician seems faintly bemused by my varying performance in consecutive eye tests...

But, it shouldn't be that surprising. We lack dopamine. It send signals from the brain to the muscles. ALL the muscles, regardless of whether they operate consciously or autonomously. Everything is affected in the end.

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A MyParki...

I am having trouble with breathing too due to rigidity of my muscles below my lungs all the way around my lower ribcage. I just put my hands there and deliberately expanded them & my breathing is better now than it has been in years

I have never heard of this either.

Thank you for the hug.