Article

This review presents the available evidence for the effects of expiratory muscle
strength training (EMST) with the use of a pressure threshold device. The
investigators used computerized database searches for studies reporting the
outcomes of pressure threshold EMST published after 1994.
A total of 24 selected
articles presented outcomes related but not limited to respiratory function, such
as speech, swallow, voice, and cough function in persons with neurologic
conditions such as Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, and Lance-Adams syndrome ; in persons with respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease; and in healthy young adults and sedentary and active elderly.
Several studies demonstrated promising outcomes of EMST as a non-task-specific
training for airway protection in persons with dysphagia secondary to neuromuscular impairments; however, further research is needed to confirm and
generalize the reported findings.

Langue : ANGLAIS