EMST150

03/19/2026

Critically ill patients with ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) often present with dysphagia.

This pilot study from Clayton et al. (2026) tested a structured, strength-based swallowing protocol in ICU patients:

The results:
All patients completed the treatment protocol and achieved premorbid diet and fluids and functional respiratory status by hospital discharge. No adverse events were recorded.

Conclusions:
“Study findings suggest that a strength-based dysphagia treatment protocol for patients with ICUAW and dysphagia is safe and feasible with promising outcomes indicating that it may support dysphagia recovery in this challenging population.

Clayton, N. A., Ward, E. C., Place, C., Scott, A., Maitz, P. K., & Kol, M. R. (2026). Early dysphagia rehabilitation in critical care: A pilot study of safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of a strength-based dysphagia treatment protocol in intensive care unit–acquired weakness. Australian Critical Care, 39(2), 101528.



Find Dr. Clayton’s on demand webinar “Applications of Respiratory Muscle Strength Training in Critical Care” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onzbsbwl-7U

03/17/2026

Free Webinar | Aspire Respiratory Products

Inhalation burn injuries present complex challenges that extend far beyond the acute phase. Communication and swallowing difficulties are common, yet the role of speech-language pathologists in supporting this population is often overlooked.
Join us for a free webinar with Dr. Nicola Clayton, Clinical Specialist Speech Pathologist at Concord Hospital in Sydney, as she shares insights from 25+ years of experience in complex dysphagia, respiratory disease, and severe burn injury.

This session will explore:
• The role of SLPs in inhalation burn injury care
• Current evidence and clinical considerations
• The potential role of respiratory muscle strength training

An important conversation for clinicians supporting patients across the sub-acute and rehabilitation phases of burn injury recovery.

Register for this free Aspire Respiratory Products webinar and join us in advancing interdisciplinary care.
Register here: emst150.com/events (link in bio)

SLP ContinuingEducation

03/12/2026

Access is often the biggest barrier to rehabilitation.

A recent pilot study of telehealth-delivered EMST for head and neck cancer survivors with dysphagia showed high acceptability and significant improvements in swallowing performance and quality of life after an 8-week program.

Tele-rehabilitation models like this could expand access to specialized dysphagia care for patients who live far from specialty centers, have mobility limitations, or face barriers to frequent clinic visits.

As survivorship populations grow, scalable models like tele-EMST may help ensure that access to rehabilitation isn’t determined by geography.

(Also, we really love to hear that this study was student-led. Congratulations!)

*If you missed our webinar on implementing EMST via Telehealth last month, find it on the healthcare professionals side of our website or on our Youtube channel.

Blyth, K., Tam, J., Robinson, R., Stone, D., & Wallace, E. S. (2026). A Student‐Led Tele‐Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) Program for Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Survivors—A Pilot Implementation Study. Head & Neck.

03/09/2026

Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST) is gaining momentum across clinical settings, from dysphagia management to pulmonary rehab and neurologic populations.
If you’ve been curious about how to safely and effectively implement RMST in clinical practice, this upcoming workshop is a great place to start.

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM
0.6 ASHA CEUs available

We’ll cover:
• The physiology behind RMST
• Evidence supporting inspiratory and expiratory training
• Patient selection and safety considerations
• Dosing, troubleshooting, and clinical implementation

💲 Registration: $99
*Bonus: Register by March 15 and receive a free device ($54.99 value)
(U.S. residents only)
If you’re looking to build confidence incorporating RMST into your treatment plans, we’d love to have you join us.
Register here: emst150.com/events

EvidenceBasedPractice

03/05/2026

Spinal trauma affects more than movement. It can significantly change how patients breathe. This matters when trying to come off the ventilator.

This study from Annia et al. (2026) found that early weaning failure was strongly linked to:
• Paradoxical breathing (rib cage moving inward during inhalation)
• Reduced abdominal muscle thickness
• Poor coordination between the chest and abdomen

Importantly, these breathing mechanics predicted weaning failure whether or not a spinal cord injury was present.
What does this mean?

Weaning challenges after spinal trauma may be less about the label (SCI vs. no SCI) and more about measurable respiratory muscle dysfunction and discoordination.

Annia F Schreiber, Fernando Vieira, Fabiana Madotto, Mayson L A Sousa, Antenor Rodrigues, Matthew Ko, Vorakamol Phoophiboon, Amanda White McFarlan, Clément Brault, Carles Subirà, Jeffrey M Singh, W Darlene Reid, Andrea Rigamonti, Andrew Baker, Christopher D Witiw, Laurent J Brochard, Respiratory Muscle Activity and Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation after Spinal Trauma: The ACCESSIT Study, Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 2026;, aaoag046, https://doi.org/10.1093/annalsats/aaoag046

03/02/2026

As per Alrashedi et al. (2026):

“What are the implications of the main findings?
IMT is a low-burden, safe, and practical intervention that can be readily integrated into routine management to address key functional limitations associated with PH.
IMT serves as an effective non-pharmacological adjunct to standard medical therapy, enhancing patient management without introducing additional systemic side effects or safety concerns.
For physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists, IMT provides an accessible and versatile modality suitable for both supervised clinical programs and home-based rehabilitation.
IMT can be delivered using portable threshold devices, facilitating wide adoption across diverse care settings and improving patient adherence.”

Alrashedi, S., Alharbi, L., Alotaibi, M., Alzahrani, I., Jad, A., Aldoboke, Q., Algethami, S., Alrabah, R., Alharbi, R., Al Nuwaiser, A., & Al-Hariri, M. (2026). Evaluating the Impact of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Respiratory Function and Exercise Capacity in Pulmonary Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Advances in Respiratory Medicine, 94(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/arm94010013

02/27/2026

Respirar es más que una función básica. Es una base fisiológica que impacta la tos, la deglución, la tolerancia al ejercicio y la calidad de vida.
En este webinar introductorio en español, presentado por Isabel Ramati, MS, CCC-SLP, LSSGB, CAPM, y moderado por Luis Riquelme, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, F-ASHA, revisaremos de manera estructurada los fundamentos del Entrenamiento de la Fuerza de los Músculos Respiratorios (RMST).
Discutiremos:
• Principios del entrenamiento inspiratorio y espiratorio
• Indicaciones, dosificación y seguridad
• Implementación clínica en distintos contextos interdisciplinarios
• Cómo integrar el RMST en tus planes de tratamiento desde el primer día
Si eres profesional de la salud y quieres fortalecer tu base conceptual para aplicar RMST con criterio clínico y confianza, esta sesión es para ti.

Regístrese Acqui: emst150.com/events

PrácticaBasadaEnEvidencia

02/26/2026

Join us live (virtually!) for a comprehensive course on the clinical application of Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST).

We’ll cover safety considerations, patient selection, dosing, troubleshooting, and how to successfully implement an RMST program in your own facility.

Led by Lauren Meffen, MA, CCC-SLP, CLT, this course will break down the science behind RMST and translate the evidence into practical, real-world strategies you can use immediately.

Walk away with the foundational knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to confidently integrate RMST into your practice.

Register here: EMST150.com/events

RespiratoryCare EvidenceBasedPractice

02/23/2026

Telehealth is expanding access to dysphagia care but can EMST be delivered effectively online?
Join us for a free webinar with Dr. Michelle S. Troche, Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, as she shares the evidence behind EMST via telehealth in neurodegenerative disease, including Parkinson’s.

You’ll learn:
• What the research shows
• How to implement EMST remotely
• Dosage, calibration, and troubleshooting tips
• Insights from a large clinical trial

Practical. Evidence-based. Free.
Register now: emst150.com/events

02/18/2026

Can breathing muscle training support pelvic floor function?

A small pilot study explored whether high-intensity inspiratory muscle training (IMT), performed at home, could help women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

What they did:
• 22 women completed 8 weeks of breathing muscle training
• One group trained at high intensity, the other performed a sham program

What they found:
• Pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance improved
• Inspiratory muscle strength increased
• Urinary symptoms did not significantly change

Why this matters:
The diaphragm and pelvic floor work together. Strengthening breathing muscles may be a useful addition to pelvic floor rehabilitation, particularly in home-based or telehealth models.

Early findings, but a promising direction for pelvic health research.

Aktan, R., Yakıt Yeşilyurt, S., Özalevli, S. et al.Effects of Home-Based, Telerehabilitation-Assisted High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training on Pelvic Floor Muscle Function and Urinary Symptoms in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Int Urogynecol J (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-026-06517-7

02/17/2026

To all the Physical Therapists who stopped by the Aspire Respiratory Products booth at -THANK YOU.

This year felt different.

Last year, many conversations started with,
“Isn’t that just a speech device?”

This year, the conversation changed.

Physical Therapists came to us already understanding the role that respiratory muscle strength training (RMST) can play across patient populations, from cardiopulmonary and neurologic conditions to pelvic health, geriatrics, and performance.

The shift was clear. We are grateful for the thoughtful discussions, clinical curiosity, and shared commitment to elevating patient care.

If you connected with us, or if you’re exploring how RMST fits into your practice, we would love to continue the conversation.

Reach out. Let’s keep building momentum together.

-Aspire Respiratory Products

02/13/2026

So excited to be at The APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) 2026 -Anaheim, California

We are excited to meet you at . Come meet us at booth #355