A Preliminary Study of Voluntary Cough Motor Performance and Learning With Skill Training and Biofeedback.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Motor Control
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Sensorimotor cough skill training (CST) enhances cough strength and motor learning.
• The impact of voluntary CST without sensory stimuli on motor performance and learning is not well understood.
• Physiologic factors (e.g., lung volume) and treatment factors (e.g., biofeedback) in CST are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of voluntary CST on motor performance and learning in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
• To examine the role of lung volume changes and biofeedback in voluntary CST outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Twenty individuals with PD underwent pre- and post-CST cough testing.
• Participants were randomized into biofeedback or no biofeedback groups for a single CST session.
• The training involved 25 voluntary cough trials targeting a 25% increase in peak expiratory flow.

Main Results:

• Voluntary CST significantly improved cough peak flow, indicating enhanced motor performance.
• Evidence of motor learning was observed, with improvements in untrained cough tasks.
• Changes in lung volume did not predict treatment response, and biofeedback did not alter outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A single session of voluntary CST can effectively improve motor performance and motor learning in individuals with PD experiencing cough dysfunction.
• Lung volume changes during training do not appear to be a key predictor of CST success.
• Biofeedback does not offer a significant advantage over standard voluntary CST in this population.