Breathing exercises may retrain swallowing in ICU survivors — a trial puts it to the test
NCT ID NCT07736105
First seen Jul 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compares three approaches to treating swallowing problems in adults recovering from critical illness: standard care, intensive swallowing exercises, and a device that strengthens breathing muscles. Researchers will measure changes in swallowing safety, cough strength, and frailty, and also ask patients and speech therapists about how practical the treatments are. The goal is to find a feasible, effective therapy for a condition that currently has few proven options.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) and intensive dysphagia treatment
- What this could lead to
- If effective, these exercises could provide a practical, targeted treatment for swallowing problems in critically ill patients, potentially reducing complications like pneumonia.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage trial, and the exercises may be too demanding for some very ill patients. Results may not apply to all hospital settings.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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