ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) on the suprahyoid muscle activation and swallowing function of stroke patients. Methods : This study randomly assigned 21 stroke patients to an experimental group and a control group. Four-week EMST was performed at resistance of 70% of the maximum expiratory pressure with the experimental group and at resistance of 20% of that with the control group. Evaluation was conducted using surface Electromyographic (sEMG), Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS), and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) based on Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS). Results : There was a statistically significant difference in the activation of the suprahyoid muscles using sEMG of the experimental group (p<.05) while there was no significant difference in that of the control group. Both group showed significant difference in the pharyngeal phase of VDS and PAS. Also in the comparison of variation in VDS and PAS before and after the intervention, there were statistically. Conclusion : Finding from this study confirmed that EMST applied 70% maximum expiratory resistance would be a remedial method which could help activate pharyngeal dysphagia patients’ suprahyoid muscles and improve swallowing function.