Effects of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training on Videofluoroscopic Measures of Swallowing: A Systematic Review

  • Renata Mancopes, Sana Smaoui, Catriona M. Steele
  • American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, February 2020, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
  • DOI: 10.1044/2019_ajslp-19-00107

Effects of EMST on swallowing

What is it about?

It is a systematic review to appraise and synthesize evidence regarding the effects of EMST on videofluoroscopic measures of swallowing in individuals with medical diagnoses, in which dysphagia is a concern.

Why is it important?

There is a lack of clear evidence that EMST leads to improved swallowing and the literature suggests that the premise that EMST might be beneficial for people with dysphagia should be revisited and that future studies should focus more clearly on testing the principles behind this premise. In addition In order to advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which EMST might prove beneficial for people with dysphagia, future studies with targeted questions about efficacy are needed.

Perspectives

Renata Mancopes
UHN

I hope this article helps to understand that it is needed to more clearly elucidate the effects of EMST on swallowing, adopting standard protocols and targeting specific physiological mechanisms related to swallowing safety and efficiency from videofluoroscopy. Also future studies should to recruit participants whose baseline swallowing function is unequivocally impaired in the parameters of interest. This will help to elucidate the mechanisms of treatment effect and will allow more informed decision making,

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1044/2019_ajslp-19-00107

The following have contributed to this page: Renata Mancopes and Professor Catriona M Steele