Chest and belly breathing coordination in Parkinson's disease
Ribcage-abdominal movement asynchrony in persons with Parkinsons disease
We are measuring how the chest and belly move together during breathing in people with Parkinson's disease to better understand voice and breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161575 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are combining breathing recordings from five past human studies to look at how the ribcage and abdomen move in people with Parkinson's disease. The team will analyze timing and coordination between chest and belly motion to identify patterns of asynchrony that could reduce speaking volume or increase the work of breathing. Because the project uses existing human-subject datasets, no new procedures are required from patients, but the results could point to measurable targets for therapy. Findings will be linked to common symptoms like hypophonia and breathlessness to help refine voice and respiratory care approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with Parkinson's disease who experience reduced speaking volume or breathing difficulty are the main group relevant to these findings, though the project uses existing data rather than enrolling new participants.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's disease or those with normal breathing and voice function are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians tailor voice and breathing therapies to specific chest–abdomen timing problems in Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown reduced speaking volume and some respiratory changes in Parkinson's, but direct analysis of chest–abdomen timing in PD is limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richardson, Kelly — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Richardson, Kelly
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.