Investigating Muscle Training's Respiratory Outcomes and Voice Enhancement in Parkinson's Disease (IMPROVE-PD)

June 18, 2024 updated by: National Taiwan University Hospital

The Association of Pulmonary Function, Diaphragm Thickness and Excursion, and Phonatory Measures in Parkinson's Disease

This study aims to investigate the effects of different types of respiratory muscle training on lung function, diaphragm movement, and voice quality in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). PD often leads to breathing difficulties and voice abnormalities due to weakened respiratory muscles and reduced diaphragm mobility. The study will involve 45 participants with PD, randomly assigned to three groups: one group will perform inspiratory muscle training, the second group will perform both inspiratory and expiratory muscle training, and the third group will receive placebo-controlled expiratory muscle training. The hypothesis is that targeted respiratory muscle training will significantly improve pulmonary function, diaphragm excursion, and phonatory measures compared to the placebo group. The findings aim to develop effective rehabilitation strategies to enhance the quality of life and communication abilities in individuals with PD.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This study aims to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training on pulmonary function, diaphragm excursion, and phonatory measures in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). PD often leads to weakened respiratory muscles, reduced diaphragm movement, and voice abnormalities, impacting breathing and communication. The study will recruit 45 patients with PD, who will be randomly assigned to three groups: an inspiratory muscle training group, a combined inspiratory and expiratory muscle training group, and a placebo-controlled expiratory muscle training group. Over eight weeks, participants will perform daily training sessions, with the intensity of the exercises adjusted periodically. Assessments will include pulmonary function tests, ultrasound measurements of diaphragm thickness and movement, and various phonatory evaluations. The hypothesis is that respiratory muscle training will significantly improve respiratory and phonatory functions in PD patients compared to placebo, providing insights into effective rehabilitation strategies for enhancing their quality of life and communication abilities.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

45

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn & Yahr stage I-III),
  • Patients aged 30-85
  • Patients with stable medical condition, regular medication adherence, and ability to follow instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with cognitive impairment
  • Patients with respiratory or other neurological diseases
  • Patients with smoking history
  • Patients with respiratory complications
  • Patients with recent chest/abdominal surgery
  • Patients with clinical instability
  • Patients who are unable to perform pulmonary function tests correctly

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Inspiratory Muscle Training
Participants in this group will undergo a specific inspiratory muscle training program. The training consists of two sessions per day, each comprising five repetitions per session. Each repetition will involve a series of inspiratory exercises aimed at strengthening the respiratory muscles. The training will be conducted six days a week for eight weeks.
Inspiratory muscle training with two sessions per day, five repetitions per session, six days a week for eight weeks.
Experimental: Combined Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscle Training
This group will participate in a combined inspiratory and expiratory muscle training regimen. Similar to the inspiratory group, training sessions will occur twice daily, with each session comprising five repetitions of both inspiratory and expiratory exercises. The training will also be conducted six days a week for eight weeks
Inspiratory muscle training with two sessions per day, five repetitions per session, six days a week for eight weeks.
Expiratory muscle training with two sessions per day, five repetitions per session, six days a week for eight weeks.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo-Controlled Expiratory Muscle Training
Participants in this control group will receive placebo-controlled expiratory muscle training. The training sessions will be similar in structure to the experimental groups, consisting of two daily sessions with five repetitions each, conducted six days a week for eight weeks
Placebo-controlled expiratory muscle training with two sessions per day, five repetitions per session, six days a week for eight weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess the forced vital capacity (FVC) to evaluate the maximum amount of air a person can forcibly exhale from the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to evaluate how much air a person can forcibly exhale in one second.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) to evaluate the strength of respiratory muscles during inhalation.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) to evaluate the strength of respiratory muscles during exhalation.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) to evaluate participants' lung function.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Maximum Phonation Time
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess the maximum phonation time to evaluate the duration a participant can sustain a vowel sound.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Voice Intensity
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess voice intensity to evaluate the loudness of a participant's voice.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Speech Rate
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess speech rate to evaluate the speed at which a participant speaks.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Speech Pauses
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess speech pauses to evaluate the frequency and duration of pauses in a participant's speech.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Voice Loudness
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess voice loudness to evaluate the volume level of a participant's voice.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess vocal performance using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) questionnaire. The VHI-10 scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating a greater perception of vocal handicap. The score interpretation is as follows: 0-10 (no or minimal handicap), 11-20 (mild handicap), 21-30 (moderate handicap), and 31-40 (severe handicap).
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diaphragm Thickness
Time Frame: Measurements will be taken at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess diaphragm thickness using ultrasound to evaluate changes in diaphragm function due to the training.
Measurements will be taken at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
Diaphragm Excursion
Time Frame: Measurements will be taken at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).
This measure will assess diaphragm excursion using ultrasound to evaluate the movement of the diaphragm during breathing.
Measurements will be taken at baseline (week 0) and after the intervention period (week 8).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Shu-mei Yang, MD, National Taiwan University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 27, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

June 25, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 25, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2024

Last Verified

May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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