Relationship between the electrical activity of suprahyoid musculature and tongue pressure during swallowing in the elderly

Abstract

Purpose: to correlate the electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature and tongue pressure during swallowing, in the elderly. Methods: thirteen elderly aged from 60 to 80 years participated in this study. They were submitted to electromyographic assessment and tongue pressure measurement while swallowing. After the evaluation, the relationship between suprahyoid musculature activity and tongue pressure during swallowing was verified. To obtain the electrical signal, surface electromyography was used and electrodes were placed in the submental region. They swallowed saliva and held the tongue against the palate for three seconds to record the maximum voluntary contraction, as well as saliva, and then, 50ml of water for the electromyographic recording. Tongue pressure was measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument during swallowing of 10ml of water. Swallowing was performed with a bulb positioned between the dorsum of the tongue and the hard palate. Statistical analysis was carried out by using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: there was a relationship between the electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature and tongue pressure, during water swallowing (p=0.093%), showing an increase in the maximum tongue pressure level as the electrical activity increased, while swallowing. Conclusion: the values of tongue pressure and electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature are related when swallowing in the presence of a greater volume of liquid to be swallowed.

Tongue coupling as a therapeutic strategy: electromyographic analysis of different training approaches

“…The electrodes were placed on previously prepared sites, and the skin was cleaned, rubbing it with gauze damped with 70% alcohol. They were placed bilaterally on the skin, parallel to the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, a little below the mentalis muscle, and anteriorly to the neck -a position compatible with the region of the suprahyoid musculature 12 (FIGURE 1a). Each participant was asked to press the tongue strongly against the hard palate, so as to achieve a better visualization of the region and locate the most prominent area 7 .…”

“…Although some studies in the literature use TC as a therapeutic strategy to treat obstructive sleep apneahypopnea syndrome [8][9][10] , mouth-breathing syndrome 11 , swallowing in older adults 12 , and so forth, most of them address its use in dysphagia [13][14][15][16] .…”

“…Indeed, the suprahyoid musculature plays an important role in swallowing, as it is related to laryngeal elevation. A study observed a relationship between the electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature and tongue pressure when swallowing 12 , suggesting that TC with the palate can strengthen not only the intrinsic tongue musculature system but also the suprahyoid musculature. This muscle activity was approached in a study 17 , which used surface electromyography (SEMG) as a strategy to analyze the activity of the suprahyoid musculature and compare tongue strengthening exercises in dysphagia rehabilitation used in clinical practice.…”