Abstract
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.
Highlights
Aging is an intrinsic, progressive and degenerative process that causes physiological changes in the organism, affecting cells, tissues, organs and systems[1]
The statistical values of the collected data corresponding to the electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature and tongue pressure while swallowing are described in the figures and tables presented
In the maximum tongue pressure test performed while swallowing saliva, the mean obtained was of 29.46, median of 28 and standard deviation of 11.43
Summary
Progressive and degenerative process that causes physiological changes in the organism, affecting cells, tissues, organs and systems[1]. The swallowing function tends to be modified by the functional alterations in the stomatognathic system (SS). Swallowing is a process in which food is transported from the mouth to the stomach, and it involves a complex coordination of lip, pharynx, larynx and esophagus musculatures. It is performed in the following stages: oral stage (conscious and voluntary), pharyngeal stage (conscious and involuntary), and esophageal stage (unconscious and involuntary, controlled by the somatic and autonomous nervous system). The suprahyoid musculature, formed by the mylohyoid muscle, geniohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle[4], is the main muscle group for the investigation of swallowing
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