Airway Clearance in Neuromuscular Disease

Abstract

High-quality respiratory care and airway clearance is essential for people with neuromuscular disease (pwNMD) as respiratory tract infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This review expands on published guidelines by highlighting the role of cough peak flow along with other options for cough evaluation, and discusses recent key research findings which have influenced the practice of respiratory therapy for pwNMD.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Cough assist; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Lung volume recruitment (LVR); Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E); Physiotherapy.