Examining chest wall movement in people with Parkinson's disease
Official title: Ribcage-abdominal movement asynchrony in persons with Parkinsons disease
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-10947699 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how people with Parkinson's disease move their chest while breathing and talking, to see if these movements might be causing speech problems like soft voice, and the goal is to find ways to help improve communication and reduce feelings of loneliness for those affected.
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 start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $129,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HL170239-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10947699 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and experience speech difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Parkinson's disease or those without speech-related issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the chest wall movements of individuals with Parkinson's disease are coordinated during breathing and speech. By analyzing data from five existing datasets, the study aims to identify how asynchronous movements may contribute to speech difficulties, particularly hypophonia, which affects a significant number of patients. Understanding these dynamics could lead to improved therapeutic interventions that enhance communication and reduce the social isolation experienced by patients. The research employs a comprehensive analysis of respiratory mechanics to uncover potential new factors influencing speech production.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better speech therapy techniques that improve communication for patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: While studies have explored aspects of respiratory function in Parkinson's disease, this specific focus on chest wall movement dynamics is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richardson, Kelly — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Richardson, Kelly
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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.