Upper Airway Management: the role of respiratory muscle strength training in ALS/MND

This course provides clinicians with an overview of respiratory muscle strength training (RMST) in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The session will explore the physiological rationale, clinical applications, and current research on Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) and proactive respiratory interventions in ALS. Special emphasis will be placed on evidence-based protocols, safety considerations, and objective and patient-centered outcomes. This course is intended for speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, and other rehabilitation professionals seeking to integrate RMST into ALS care.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Tabor Gray is an Associate Professor in the College of Allopathic Medicine, and Director of the Cathy J. Husman ALS Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her research focuses on implementation of evidence-based clinical screening and assessment tools, and optimizing interventions to address speech, swallowing, and airway protection decline in individuals living with ALS. Her work includes establishing meaningful bulbar outcome measures, investigating a novel respiratory exercise program to improve pulmonary and cough function, and advancing strategies to optimize oral health and hygiene in individuals living with ALS.