Mean (SD) EMG activity (normalised to the mean value of the top quartile), EMG burst duration (ms), and time between EMG burst onset and cough onset (ms) during voluntary cough at each quintile of cough flow in 10 subjects
| Flow quintiles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20%* | 21–40% | 41–60% | 61–80% | 81–100% | |
| *Activation of the accessory muscles seen only in one subject at the lowest quintile of airflow. | |||||
| EMG activity | |||||
| Rectus abdominis | 22.5 (24.9) | 34.8 (22.5) | 50.7 (22.5) | 64.8 (18.2) | 100 |
| Int/ext oblique | 18.7 (14.9) | 33.8 (18.4) | 54.1 (21.8) | 75.4 (19.5) | 100 |
| Intercostal/diaphragm | 15.1 (13.5) | 23.2 (16.7) | 42.8 (17.9) | 63.6 (20.9) | 100 |
| All expiratory muscles | 18.8 (17.8) | 30.6 (19.2) | 49.2 (20.7) | 67.9 (19.5) | 100 |
| Deltoid | 0.4 | 4.8 (12.0) | 21.7 (20.9) | 52.3 (25.2) | 100 |
| Pectoralis major | 0.2 | 6.1 (7.0) | 24.8 (18.7) | 54.1 (30.6) | 100 |
| Trapezius | 2.6 | 11.9 (21.7) | 30.7 (29.2) | 63.8 (33.6) | 100 |
| Latissimus dorsi | 3.2 | 13.0 (10.4) | 36.4 (23.1) | 60.7 (24.1) | 100 |
| All accessory muscles | 1.6 | 8.9 (12.8) | 28.4 (22.9) | 57.7 (28.4) | 100 |
| EMG burst duration | |||||
| Rectus abdominis | 126 (42) | 162 (51) | 209 (49) | 247 (60) | 311 (69) |
| Int/ext oblique | 128 (32) | 152 (54) | 201 (31) | 255 (54) | 313 (52) |
| Intercostal/diaphragm | 144 (54) | 152 (70) | 214 (41) | 266 (58) | 318 (58) |
| Expiratory muscles | 133 (43) | 155 (58) | 208 (40) | 256 (57) | 314 (60) |
| Deltoid | 55 | 105 (46) | 176 (81) | 198 (70) | 218(84) |
| Pectoralis major | 98 | 124 (64) | 162 (117) | 217 (117) | 260 (107) |
| Trapezius | 72 | 81 (41) | 120 (64) | 177 (69) | 218 (82) |
| Latissimus dorsi | 99 | 141 (38) | 184 (79) | 236 (92) | 283 (75) |
| Accessory muscles | 81 | 113 (47) | 160 (85) | 228 (87) | 245 (87) |
| EMG burst onset | |||||
| Rectus abdominis | −90 (35) | −96 (35) | −104 (30) | −101 (28) | −104 (25) |
| Int/ext oblique | −100 (41) | −93 (40) | −106 (32) | −100 (31) | −115 (30) |
| Intercostal/diaphragm | −102 (30) | −90 (42) | −100 (34) | −110 (31) | −110 (35) |
| Expiratory muscles | −97 (35) | −93 (39) | −103 (32) | −104 (30) | −110 (32) |
| Deltoid | −24 | −44 (29) | −73 (30) | −75 (34) | −65 (51) |
| Pectoralis major | −51 | −71 (10) | −65 (41) | −77 (32) | −76 (34) |
| Trapezius | −58 | −44 (26) | −57 (33) | −77 (45) | −79 (34) |
| Latissimus dorsi | −77 | −78 (20) | −76 (34) | −85 (28) | −89 (35) |
| Accessory muscles | −53 | −59 (21) | −68 (35) | −78 (35) | −77 (39) |