12/03/2025
In this small exploratory study from Bhutada et al. (2025), adults with moderate–severe OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) showed subtle but measurable changes in pharyngeal swallow biomechanics, even when their swallows were “safe.”
After just 4 weeks of EMST (expiratory muscle strength training), participants demonstrated improvements in how the upper esophageal sphincter opened, an important part of efficient swallowing.
While preliminary, these findings highlight two key points:
-OSA can affect more than breathing and sleep
-EMST may support targeted improvements in swallowing physiology for select patients
More research is needed, but this work opens the door for better identification, treatment, and support for people living with OSA.
Bhutada, A. M., Carnaby, G. D., Broughton, W. A., Beverly, B. L., & Garand, K. L. (2025). Exploring Pharyngeal Swallow Biomechanical Events in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Assessing Expiratory Muscle Strength Training Effects on These Events: A Pilot Investigation. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1-14.