Acute Effects of Air Stacking Versus Glossopharyngeal Breathing in Patients with Neuromuscular Disease

Objective: To compare the effects of Air Stacking (AS) and Glossopharyngeal Breathing (GPB) on the Maximum Insufflation Capacity (MIC) in patients with Neuromuscular Disease (NMD). Methods: We design a randomized cross-over study. Children and adolescents with NMD who were users of non-invasive mechanical ventilation were recruited. Vital capacity (VC) and MIC were measured before and after the intervention with AS and GPB. Values were compared pre- and postintervention and were considered statistically significant if p <0.05. Results: We selected 14 patients with a median age of 12.5 years (range 9-18) with the following diagnoses: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (7), Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II (3), Spinal Cord