Multimodal Adaptations to Expiratory Musculature-Targeted Resistance Training: A Preliminary Study in Healthy Young Adults.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the neuroplastic effects of 4-week expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) in healthy young adults, focusing on molecular and functional changes.
Results Summary
The study found significant increases in maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and serum BDNF levels post-training, along with functional activation changes in eight brain regions, but no significant changes in IGF-1 levels or white matter microstructure.
Population
Five healthy young adult men aged 19-35 years.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4-week expiratory musculature-targeted resistance training | increase | maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) | healthy young adult men aged between 19 and 35 years | - | significantly increased | #1 |
4-week expiratory musculature-targeted resistance training | increase | serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels | healthy young adult men aged between 19 and 35 years | - | significantly increased | #2 |
4-week expiratory musculature-targeted resistance training | no change | insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels | healthy young adult men aged between 19 and 35 years | - | this effect was not observed | #3 |
expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) | increase | functional activation in eight regions | healthy young adult men aged between 19 and 35 years | - | significant increase in functional activation | #4 |
expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) | no change | white matter microstructure | healthy young adult men aged between 19 and 35 years | - | did not observe significant changes | #5 |
PURPOSE: Exercise-induced adaptations, including neuroplasticity, are well studied for physical exercise that targets skeletal muscles. However, little is known about the neuroplastic potential of targeted speech and swallowing exercises. The current study aimed to gather preliminary data on molecular and functional changes associated with the neuroplastic effects of 4-week expiratory musculature-targeted resistance training in healthy young adults. METHOD: Five healthy young adult men aged between 19 and 35 years, M (SD) = 28.8 (2.68) years, underwent 4 weeks of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST). We measured changes in maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels at baseline and posttraining conditions. Furthermore, functional and structural magnetic resonance images were obtained to investigate the neuroplastic effects of EMST. We analyzed the effects of training using a linear mixed model for each outcome, with fixed effects for baseline and posttraining. RESULTS: MEP and serum BDNF levels significantly increased posttraining. However, this effect was not observed for IGF-1. A significant increase in functional activation in eight regions was also observed posttraining. However, we did not observe significant changes in the white matter microstructure. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data from our study suggest targeted resistance training of expiratory muscles results in molecular and neuroplastic adaptations similar to exercise that targets skeletal muscles. Additionally, these results suggest that EMST could be a potential intervention to modulate (or prime) neurotrophic signaling pathways linked to functional strength gains and neuroplasticity.