Effect of expiratory muscle strength training on elderly cough function

Age-related loss of muscle strength, known as sarcopenia, in the expiratory muscles, along with reductions in lung elastic recoil and chest wall compliance decreases the intrathoacic airway pressure as well as expiratory flow rates and velocity, greatly impacting an elderly person's ability to generate the forces essential for cough. This study examined the effects of a 4-week expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) program on maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and cough function in 18 healthy but sedentary elderly adults. MEP significantly increased after the EMST program from 77.14 ± 20.20 to 110.83 ± 26.11 cm H2O. Parameters measured during reflexive coughs produced by capsaicin challenge, indicated that compression phase duration significantly decreased (from 0.35 ± 0.19 to 0.16 ± 0.17 s), peak expiratory flow rate decreased (from 4.98 ± 2.18 to 8.00 ± 3.05 l/s) and post-peak plateau integral amplitude significantly increased (from 3.49 ± 2.46 to 6.83 ± 4.16 l/s s) with the EMST program. EMST seems to be an effective program to increase the expiratory muscle strength in the sedentary elderly, which contribute to an enhanced cough function.