Cough and Swallowing Therapy and Their Effects on Vocal Fold Bowing and Laryngeal Lesions

OBJECTIVE

Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) and sensorimotor training of airway protection (smTAP) are two exercises intended to improve cough and swallowing in people with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD). The aims of this study were to (1) examine whether EMST or smTAP elicit changes to vocal fold bowing; and (2) describe the safety of EMST and smTAP as it relates to the development of vocal fold lesions.

METHOD(S)

This was a secondary analysis of data from PwPD who completed EMST or smTAP as part of a prospective randomized controlled trial. Vocal fold bowing (BI) and the presence of laryngeal lesions were blindly analyzed from flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) using ImageJ software and operational definitions. Linear regression was used to examine the influence time (pre- vs. post-therapy) and therapy (EMST vs. smTAP) on vocal fold bowing. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the presence of laryngeal lesions.

RESULT(S)

Overall, 56 participants were included, 28 per group. The median BI scores pre- and post-therapy were 8.2% and 8.3% for the EMST group and 11.3% and 8.4% for the smTAP group, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed insufficient evidence to suggest an effect of time and treatment type on BI (p > 0.05) or on the presence of vocal fold lesions (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on these and previous findings, it appears that changes in vocal fold bowing do not drive treatment effects following EMST and smTAP. Also, this study further supports the safety of smTAP and EMST despite the required forceful exhalation and repetitive coughing.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 134:1127-1132, 2024.

Physical exercise and its effects on people with Parkinson's disease: Umbrella review

INTRODUCTION

Parkinson's disease is neurodegenerative, complex and progressive, manifesting in a slow and irreversible way. Physical exercise has been proposed as therapeutic alternative to people with Parkinson´s disease.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize knowledge about the effects of physical exercise on people with Parkinson´s Disease as presented by published systematic reviews.

METHODS

Nine electronic databases and two grey literature databases were searched for systematic reviews reporting the effects of physical exercises on people with Parkinson´s Disease. Searches involved a two-phase process, by, at least, two independent reviewers. Methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was assessed using AMSTAR-2.

RESULTS

From 2,122 systematic reviews, 139 were included. Motor outcomes were assessed in 91% of the studies, with balance being the most studied. Non-motor outcomes were assessed in 68% of the studies, with emphasis on quality of life. Physical exercises were classified into five categories: aerobic exercises, strength, combined, sensorimotor activities and other activity protocols. Findings of the systematic reviews suggest that all exercise categories can be prescribed to improve balance and mobility, while combined exercises, strength, and specific activities improve both motor and non-motor outcomes, and aerobic exercise and sensorimotor activities improve motor outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence from systematic reviews suggests that physical exercises impacts both motor and non-motor outcomes in people with Parkinson´s Disease. Limits in evidence provided by the systematic reviews were related to methodological issues and to the description of the interventions and must be considered to improve decision-making and clinical application.

Effects of high-intensity respiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength in individuals with Parkinson's disease: Protocol of a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of high-intensity respiratory muscle training (combined inspiratory and expiratory muscle training) in improving inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, peak cough flow, dyspnea, fatigue, exercise capacity, and quality of life in this population.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial, concealed allocation, blinded assessments, and intention-to-treat analysis will be carried out. Altogether, 34 individuals with PD (age ≥ 50 years old, with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) <80cmH2O or maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) <90cmH2O) will be recruited. Patients will be randomly assigned to either (1) high-intensity respiratory muscle training (experimental group, 60% of MIP and MEP) or (2) sham training (control group, 0cmH2O). Individuals will perform a home-based intervention, with indirect home supervision, consisting of two daily 20-min sessions (morning and afternoon), seven times a week, during eight weeks. Primary outcomes are MIP and MEP. Secondary outcomes are inspiratory muscle endurance, peak cough flow, dyspnea, fatigue, exercise capacity, and quality of life. The effects of the training will be analyzed from the collected data using intention-to-treat. Between-group differences will be measured using a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (2*3), considering baseline, post-intervention, and 12-week follow-up.

IMPACT

The results of this trial will provide valuable new information on the efficacy of high-intensity respiratory muscle training in improving muscle strength, functional outcomes, and quality of life in individuals with PD. Performing combined inspiratory and expiratory muscle training using a single equipment is cheaper and feasible, takes less time and is easy to use. In addition, this intervention will be carried out in the home environment that increases accessibility, reduces time, and costs of transport, which increases the feasibility to reproduce their findings in clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05608941. Registered on November 8, 2022.

Association between Respiratory Function and Motor Function in Different Stages of Parkinson's Disease

INTRODUCTION

Respiratory dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) could present in the early stage and worsen in the late stages. These changes could be a factor affecting the ability of daily living and quality of life of patients with PD. The primary objective of this study was to assess the respiratory function and its association with motor function in patients with different stages of PD.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Huashan Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, China. The study included 65 patients diagnosed with PD (the Hoehn and Yahr scale between 1 and 4) and 20 healthy individuals of similar age, gender, weight, and height. The ventilatory function was assessed using the spirometry. Motor function was evaluated using subscale III of the United Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS-III). After confirming the normality of data distribution, we performed one-way ANOVA with a Tukey's post hoc test.

RESULTS

Compared with the healthy individuals, there was no statistical significance in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) in the H&Y 1 group and H&Y 2 group (p > 0.05) but reduced peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the H&Y 2 group (p = 0.002). Reduced FVC, FEV1, and PEF was seen in the H&Y 3 group (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.0001, respectively). Reduced FVC, FEV1, PEF, and FEF25-75% was seen in the H&Y 4 group (p = 0.001, p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001, and p = 0.025, respectively). The correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant negative correlation between FVC and UPDRS-III scores (r = -0.248, p = 0.046), disease duration (r = -0.276, p = 0.026), H&Y scale (r = -0.415, p = 0.001). FEV1 was negatively correlated with UPDRS-III scores (r = -0.277, p = 0.025), disease duration (r = -0.291, p = 0.019), H&Y scale (r = -0.434, p = 0.0001). FEF25-75% was negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.247, p = 0.047), H&Y scale (r = -0.278, p = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed that respiratory impairment is present in moderate and advanced PD patients, and directly related to the severity of the disease. It is important to conduct respiratory function test in the clinical practice.

Effects of an incentive spirometer versus a threshold inspiratory muscle trainer on lung functions in Parkinson's disease patients: a randomized trial

Upper airway obstruction, reduced maximal expiratory and inspiratory flows, reduced lung volumes, abnormal ventilatory control, and diaphragmatic dyskinesias are reported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been reported to be effective in improving respiratory functions; however, no studies have compared the effects of the incentive spirometer (IS) with the threshold inspiratory muscle trainer (TIMT) in patients with PD. The study aimed to compare the effects of IS and TIMT on maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in patients with stage 1-3 according to the Hoehn and Yahr scale. 18 patients were randomly assigned to two groups, i.e., incentive spirometer (IS) and threshold inspiratory muscle trainer (TIMT) group. The IS group received IMT with volume-based IS, and the TIMT group received IMT with TIMT. MIP, 6-MWD, FVC, FEV1, and PEFR were measured before and after six weeks of training. In IS group: A significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in MIP and 6-MWD by 18.13 and 5%, respectively. In the TIMT group: A significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in MIP and 6-MWD by 30.15 and 8.94%, respectively. Both groups observed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in FVC, FEV1, and PEFR. When the two groups were compared, a greater increase (p < 0.05) was observed in the MIP and 6-MWD in the TIMT group compared to IS group. IMT with IS or TIMT for six weeks effectively increased MIP and 6-MWD in patients with stage 1-3 (Hoehn and Yahr scale) of PD. No improvement was observed in FVC, FEV1, or PEFR with any of the techniques. TIMT is more effective than IS in improving MIP and 6-MWD.

Effect of eight weeks respiratory muscle training on respiratory capacity, functional capacity and quality of life on subjects with mild to moderate relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nervous system leading to muscle weakness, including the respiratory muscles that cause pulmonary complications, impair functional capacity, increased fatigue, and as a result decreases the quality of life.

AIM

The purpose of the present study is to examine the influence of 8 weeks of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in MS patients.

METHODS

The present study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 36 (27 Female, 9 Male) relapsing-remitting MS patients who were definitively diagnosed by a neurologist and randomly were divided into intervention and control groups. Both groups were educated on lifestyle modification with an emphasis on regular physical activity. In addition, the intervention group was prescribed eight weeks of respiratory muscle training with a threshold resistance device, daily, twice a day for three sets of 15 repetitions per set. Maximal expiratory pressure (PImax), maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), spirometric indices, functional tests (six-minute walk test, timed up and go test), fatigue questionnaire, and questionnaire of quality of life were assessed before and after trials.

RESULTS

A total of 36 patients (75% female; mean age 38.00(8.86) years; BMI 26.56(2.64) kg/m²) were included in the study. The strength of inspiratory and expiratory muscles, respiratory function, fatigue, and quality of life were significantly improved in the intervention group (p<0.005). In addition, there was a significant improvement in the rate of fatigue and quality of life in all their dimensions (p<0.005). Only in the six-minute walk test, no significant improvement was seen in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.262).

CONCLUSION

Findings could help therapists to provide MS patients with more effective respiratory muscle training protocols to maximize the benefits of rehabilitation.

The Healing Effects of Piano Practice-Induced Hand Muscle Injury

Background

The muscles related to piano practice are mainly concentrated in the fingers and upper limbs, and the muscles related to other parts of the body are weak. Compared with other sports injuries, the injuries caused by piano practice are mainly chronic injuries caused by long-term strain of the upper limbs, and acute injuries rarely occur. The purpose of this study was to analyze the therapeutic effect of hand muscle injury caused by piano practice.

Method

A total of 60 patients with hand muscle injury caused by piano practice admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to June 2020 were selected. According to the number random grouping method, they were randomly divided into two groups. There were 30 patients in the observation group, including 20 males and 10 females, aged 24-53 (39.51 ± 7.01) years old, and the course of disease was 1-5 (3.24 ± 1.62) months. In the control group, there were 30 patients, including 18 males and 12 females, aged 24-56 (39.62 ± 7.17) years old, and the course of disease was 1.5-5 (3.14 ± 1.71) months. If the observation group experienced excessive pain, the group took ibuprofen sustained-release capsules. On weekdays, exercise your fingers 2-3 times per day. After the intervention, the wrist joint function score of the observation group was higher than that before the intervention.

Results

Before treatment, there was no significant difference in pain level scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the limb pain score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group. The effective rate of hand tendon rehabilitation in the observation group was 93.33%. The effective rate of hand tendon rehabilitation in the control group was 70.00%. The comparison results showed that there was statistical significance (P < 0.05). The score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Piano workouts can cause hand muscle difficulties, which can be alleviated by daily finger gymnastics. Daily finger exercises are simple and not limited by time and place. Piano practitioners can use the spare time of daily training and performance to exercise for a long time, so as to prevent or recover finger muscle damage caused by piano practice. It has the potential to help pianists avoid hand muscle injuries when practicing while also allowing music to reach its full potential.

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Strength Training on Respiratory-Related Impairments of Parkinson's Disease

In addition to typical motor dysfunction, Parkinson's disease is also characterized by respiratory-related dysfunction. As a means of rehabilitation, respiratory muscle strength training (RMST) has been applied to restore Parkinson's disease (PD) functions. However, the current clinical value of RMST in the application for PD has not been widely established. This article aims to review the research progress of the application of RMST in PD rehabilitation to provide new sight into respiratory-related impairments management in people with PD.

Respiratory Abnormalities in Parkinson's Disease: What Do We Know from Studies in Humans and Animal Models?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by movement disorders due to the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the ventrolateral region of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Apart from the cardinal motor symptoms such as rigidity and bradykinesia, non-motor symptoms including those associated with respiratory dysfunction are of increasing interest. Not only can they impair the patients’ quality of life but they also can cause aspiration pneumonia, which is the leading cause of death among PD patients. This narrative review attempts to summarize the existing literature on respiratory impairments reported in human studies, as well as what is newly known from studies in animal models of the disease. Discussed are not only respiratory muscle dysfunction, apnea, and dyspnea, but also altered central respiratory control, responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia, and how they are affected by the pharmacological treatment of PD.

Speech dysfunction, cognition, and Parkinson's disease

Communication difficulties are a ubiquitous symptom of Parkinson's disease and include changes to both motor speech and language systems. Communication challenges are a significant driver of lower quality of life. They are associated with decreased communication participation, social withdrawal, and increased risks for social isolation and stigmatization in persons with Parkinson's disease. Recent theoretical advances and experimental evidence underscore the intersection of cognition and motor processes in speech production and their impact on spoken language. This chapter overviews a growing evidence base demonstrating that cognitive impairments interact with motor changes in Parkinson's disease to negatively affect communication abilities in myriad ways, at all stages of the disease, both in the absence and presence of dementia. The chapter highlights common PD interventions (pharmacological, surgical, and non-pharmacological) and how cognitive influences on speech production outcomes are considered in each.

Walking training augments the effects of expiratory muscle training in Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of walking training combined with respiratory muscle training (RMT) on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and functional exercise capacity in patients with Parkinson's disease.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Thirty patients with Parkinson's disease were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the walking and RMT group (W + RMT, n = 15) and the RMT (n = 15) group. Spirometry, respiratory muscle strength, and a 6-min walking test were measured before and after the eighth week of the study. RMT was performed using inspiratory and expiratory threshold loading methods. Walking training intensity was adjusted according to the 6-min walking test. Patients performed 15 min of inspiratory muscle training and 15 min of expiratory muscle training in both groups, and 15 min of walking training in the W + RMT group in addition to RMT, twice per day, 5 days/week, for a total of 8 weeks at home. Training intensity was adjusted once per week for the groups at the hospital.

RESULTS

Respiratory muscle strength and 6-min walking distance were significantly increased (p = .001), and UPDRS-III scores were significantly improved (W + RMT: p = .008 and RMT: p = .01) in the two groups. The increase in maximal expiratory pressure was significantly higher in the W + RMT group than in the RMT group (p = .007).

CONCLUSION

Walking training increases the effect of expiratory muscle training in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Respiratory Disorders in Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) non motor symptoms may present early in the disease course and worsen with advancing disease. Respiratory changes can affect individuals to remain physically active, contributing to a reduction of functionality and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize evidence of respiratory disorders in patients with PD.

METHODS

An electronic search was performed up to November 2020 on PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Lilacs, Cinahl, and Cochrane using the following keyword combination: [("Parkinson disease") AND ("respiratory function tests" OR "evaluation") AND ("respiratory system" OR "respiration disorders" OR "respiratory muscles")].

RESULTS

The electronic search resulted in 601 references in English or Portuguese. The selection process and data extraction were made by two independent reviewers. We selected 19 studies including cross-sectional studies that investigated the respiratory disorders in patients with PD through pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, or physical capacity evaluation. We excluded studies that considered patients with other diseases. Eighteen studies evaluated the pulmonary function in patients with PD, eleven studies verified the influence of PD on respiratory muscle strength, and three studies assessed the physical capacity through functional tests.

CONCLUSION

The evidence showed that PD patients have higher chances to present a pulmonary dysfunction, either obstructive or restrictive, when compared to healthy subjects. In addition, these patients present lower respiratory muscle strength and a consequent decrease in physical capacity in endurance exercises. The respiratory impairment in PD seems to be directly related to the progression of the disease.

Using Ultrasound to Document the Effects of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) on the Geniohyoid Muscle

Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is an exercise program designed to strengthen the muscles of expiration by increasing expiratory load during breathing exercises using either resistive or pressure threshold devices. Previous research has shown that EMST may increase submental suprahyoid muscle activity as measured with surface electromyography. The impact of EMST on submental muscles is of interest to those who treat dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cross-sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle changes as observed with ultrasound during a 5-week EMST program performed at 75% of maximum expiratory strength using the EMST150 device in healthy adults. Ten healthy adults participated in the 5-week program. Maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and cross-sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle were measured weekly. Geniohyoid cross-sectional area was measured from ultrasound images recorded in the coronal plane. Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to determine whether there were significant changes among the dependent variables over the study period. Both MEP and geniohyoid area increased significantly in response to a 5-week program of EMST. EMST in healthy adults is effective at strengthening the geniohyoid muscle as reflected by significantly increased cross-sectional area measured with B-mode ultrasound. This is the first study to document weekly change in muscle morphology as a result of EMST. Increasing geniohyoid muscle mass and consequent strength through a program of EMST may be beneficial for persons with pharyngeal stage dysphagia resulting from reduced hyolaryngeal elevation, reduced laryngeal closure, or reduced UES opening.

Respiratory Dysfunctions in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Respiratory dysfunctions have been associated with Parkinson's disease since the first observations of the disease in 1817. Patients with Parkinson's disease frequently present respiratory disorders with obstructive ventilatory patterns and restrictive modifications, as well as limitations in respiratory volumes. In addition, respiratory impairments are observed due to the rigidity and kyphosis that Parkinson's disease patients experience. Subsidiary pulmonary complications can also appear as side effects of medication. Silent aspiration can be the cause of pneumonia in Parkinson's disease. Pulmonary dysfunction is one of the main factors that leads to the morbidity and mortality of patients with Parkinson's disease. Here, we performed a narrative review of the literature and reviewed studies on dyspnea, lung volumes, respiratory muscle function, sleep breathing disorders, and subsidiary speech and swallow impairments related to pulmonary dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Short-Term Effect of Intensive Speech Therapy on Dysarthria in Patients With Sporadic Spinocerebellar Degeneration

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate a structured approach for effective speech therapy (ST) for dysarthria and speech-related quality of life in patients with sporadic spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), including cerebellar-type multiple-system atrophy and cerebellar cortical atrophy. Method Twenty-two patients with SCD (cerebellar-type multiple system atrophy, 15 patients; cerebellar cortical atrophy, seven patients) who underwent intensive ST were examined. Dysarthria was evaluated using the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia Speech Dysfunction, Assessment of Motor Speech for Dysarthria Articulation, oral diadochokinesis (OD), and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Respiratory muscle strength (inspiratory and expiratory pressure) and respiratory-phonatory coordination (maximum phonation time) were measured. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montréal Cognitive Assessment and the word fluency test. Mood was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The relationships between dysarthria scales (particularly, VHI-10) and clinical data were analyzed using stepwise regression. The differences in outcomes after intensive ST were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The alpha level (p) for statistical significance was set at .0125 by Bonferroni correction. Results For both pre- and post-ST, the patient's OD (p = .002) and maximum phonation time (p = .002) significantly improved, except for Speech Dysfunction scores of the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (p = .705) and the VHI-10 (p = .018). The Assessment of Motor Speech for Dysarthria Articulation, OD, and inspiratory pressure were identified as independent variables of VHI-10 (adjusted R ² = .820) for speech-related quality of life; no correlations among the Montréal Cognitive Assessment, word fluency test, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were observed. Conclusion OD and VHI-10 showed improvements due to changes in speech function and respiratory-phonatory coordination, justifying intensive ST treatment for dysarthria in patients with SCD.

Vigorous Aerobic Exercise in the Management of Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the findings from studies examining the effects of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise in the management of Parkinson disease. TYPE: Systematic review.

LITERATURE SURVEY

PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched up to May 2020. Reference lists of the included articles were also searched for additional studies. Searches were restricted to English language.

METHODOLOGY

Seven papers, including six studies, five randomized controlled trials and one controlled trial, were identified. The studies examined the effects of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise in participants with Parkinson disease. Studies in which the minimal intensity required was ≥77% of maximum heart rate, 60% of heart rate reserve or 64% of maximal oxygen uptake met the inclusion criteria. Method appraisal showed a mean score of 5.3 in the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.

SYNTHESIS

No statistically significant differences were found between vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and moderate/low-intensity aerobic exercise for the main outcomes (disease severity and motor function). Only one study concluded a significant higher aerobic fitness in favor of the group that exercised at vigorous intensity compared to the moderate intensity group.

CONCLUSIONS

Vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise has not shown statistically significant improvements in motor and nonmotor impairments in individuals with Parkinson disease as compared to moderate/low-intensity aerobic exercise. Hence, the current evidence is too limited to allow recommendations for clinical practice.