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Lung Volume Recruitment Combined With Expiratory Muscle Strength Training in ALS

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Registration Number
NCT03202017
Lead Sponsor
University of Minnesota
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of two treatment techniques called Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) and Lung Volume Recruitment (LVR) on breathing, swallowing, speech, and cough function in persons with mild to moderate ALS. Half of the participants will do EMST alone, and the other half of the participants will do EMST and LVR.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
23
Inclusion Criteria
  • ALS defined as possible, laboratory-supported probable, probable, or definite by El Escorial criteria
  • Reduced Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) compared to norms for age and sex
  • Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) > 65% predicted
Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability to provide informed consent
  • Relative contraindications to LVR, including known pneumothorax, active internal bleeding, unstable hypertension, unstable angina, emphysema, recent barotrauma, or FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume, trial 1)/FVC ratio < 0.7.
  • Use of EMST or breath stacking > 3 days/week within 12 weeks of screening
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Cognitive Behavioral Scale (ALS-CBS) score predictive of dementia (≤ 10)
  • Participation in another clinical trial of an intervention in ALS within 30 days of study enrollment or during study enrollment

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Peak Cough FlowBaseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12

Ventilatory measure that assesses the change in coughing ability at Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Maximal Expiratory PressureWeek 0, Week 6, Week 8, Week 10, and Week 12

Measurement of respiratory muscle strength changes at Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), Week 8, Week 10, and End of Study (Week 12)

Forced Vital CapacityBaseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12

Measurement of changes in how much air is exhaled over a series of forced breaths at Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12)

Eating Assessment Tool - 10 (EAT-10)Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12

10-item patient reported outcome assessing changes in swallowing function at Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12)

Swallowing Related Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL)Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12)

44-item patient reported outcome assessing changes in swallowing impairment at Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12)

Speech Intelligibility Test (SIT)Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12)

Standardized assessment of speech intelligibility and efficiency in neuromuscular disorders. Measures changes in speech intelligibility at Baseline (Week 0), Randomization (Week 6), and End of Study (Week 12).

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of Florida

🇺🇸

Gainesville, Florida, United States

University of Minnesota

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

University of Florida
🇺🇸Gainesville, Florida, United States

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