Sapienza, Christine M.; Davenport, Paul W.; Martin, A. D. Expiratory
Muscle Training Increases Pressure Support in High School Band
Students. Journal of Voice, 16(4): 495-501; 2002.
Examines effects of expiratory muscle training
(EMT) program on healthy band players. High school students (N = 40)
underwent a two-week training program consisting of five workouts per
week (Monday-Friday) using a device with a mouth piece and a
spring-loaded adjustable valve to provide a resistance to air flow. The
device was set at 75% of the subject's maximum expiratory pressure
(MEP) and subjects completed four sets of four breaths per session. The
males showed significantly higher baseline MEP values within each group
(p < .025). After the two-week session, the EMT group showed
significant increases in MEP for both males and females (p < .025)
while the control group showed no increase. There was also no
significant difference between band members playing different
instruments. The results show that the exercise intervention is a
simple way to increase MEP in healthy people regardless of sex or
activity. The mechanism for the increase in expiratory pressure is due
to the effects of the strength training. Active expiration requires a
force to be generated by the expiratory muscles to create a greater
pressure within the lungs, compared to the atmosphere. Changes in motor
units, the neuromuscular system and increased muscle tissue increase
the amount of pressure that can be created by the expiratory muscles,
as was measured by MEP.