Expiratory Pressure in Healthy Individuals

Determining Factors of the Maximal Expiratory Pressure in Healthy Individuals: Influence of the Mouthpiece Configuration

The present study aims at enhancing our understanding of the influence of the mouthpiece configuration on the amplitude of oral pressures generated during a maximum expiratory pressure maneuver and on the neuromuscular recruitment of expiratory muscles (more specifically of the internal oblique and the transverse abdominal muscles).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Respiratory Physiology
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: MEP measurement - Surface EMG

Detailed Description

Enhancing our understanding of the influence of the mouthpiece configuration on oral pressures and on the neuromuscular recruitment of the internal oblique and the transverse abdominal muscles during a maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) maneuver is the primary goal of this study

Maximal Respiratory Mouth Pressures (MIP and MEP):

Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) are commonly used indices to assess respiratory muscle strength at the mouth.

MIP measures the strength of inspiratory muscles, while MEP assesses expiratory muscle strength.

These measurements are simple, convenient, and noninvasive. However, clear standards for these measurements are not well-established.

Choice of Mouthpiece:

We propose exploring different mouthpiece designs to know their impact on pressure measurements.

Influence of Mouthpiece Design:

The type of mouthpiece used can affect pressure measurements. Some investigators recommend including a small leak in the measuring circuit to dissipate pressure generated in the mouth and minimize measurement errors.

However, specific studies focusing on the influence of mouthpiece design on MEP and neuromuscular recruitment of expiratory muscles (such as the internal oblique and transverse muscles) during MEP maneuvers would be valuable.

Additional Considerations:

Factors like body position (sitting vs. half-lying) may also impact pressure measurements, although no significant differences were found in one study.

Among the objectives of our study, we aim at exploring ways to improve the accuracy and reliability of respiratory pressure measurements.

In summary, understanding the impact of mouthpiece design on oral pressures during MEP maneuvers is essential for accurate assessment of respiratory muscle function. Further research in this area could provide valuable insights for clinical practice and pulmonary function laboratories.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 49
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Tournai, Belgium
    • Haute Ecole Provinciale du Hainaut Condorcet

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age over 18

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any neuromuscular disease or condition susceptible to interfere with the results
• Pregnant women
• Any contraindications to the realization of maximal expiratory maneuvers, as defined in the ATS Pulmonary Function Laboratory Management And Procedure Manual (3rd Edition)
• Excessive abdominal gird, compromising ultrasonographic positioning of electrodes or altering signal quality

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Healthy subjects	Other: MEP measurement - Surface EMG; Participants will undergo serial expiratory maneuvers using different mouthpieces. At each maneuver, the maximal expiratory mouth pressure at total lung capacity will be measured, alongside with the degree of neuromuscular activation of the internal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles using surface electromyography.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Maximal expiratory pressure	120 minutes
Root mean square of the EMG signal	120 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Orbicularis Oris Performance Index	Obtained after computational processing of participant photographs using a MatLab based software. This index is a newly developed marker of the Orbicularis Oris function based on different anthropometric variables	5 minutes
Orbicularis Oris strength	Obtained through the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument	10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Laboratory of Movement, Condorcet, Tournai, Belgium
• Collaborators: University of Mons
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Frederic Duprez (PhD), Provincial High School of Hainaut, Condorcet; Principal Investigator: Eliot Rudy Mbolo Ebubu (MD, PhD candidate), University of Mons; Principal Investigator: Alexandre Legrand (MD, PhD), Physician, PhD, University of Mons; Principal Investigator: Alexandra Tassin, Biomedical scientist, University of Mons

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 18, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): October 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 26, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 30, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: P2024/081

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No