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Dysphagia
Published in: Dysphagia 5/2023

Open Access 27-04-2023 | Dysphagia | Original Article

Surface Electromyography for Evaluating the Effect of Aging on the Coordination of Swallowing Muscles

Authors: Wei-Han Chang, Mei-Hui Chen, Jen-Fang Liu, Wei Li Chung, Li-Ling Chiu, Yi-Fang Huang

Published in: Dysphagia | Issue 5/2023

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Abstract

Swallowing function can deteriorate with age, leading to a risk of dysphagia. Swallowing evaluation by surface electromyography (sEMG) can be easily and extensively applied for an elderly population. This study evaluated the temporal events observed by sEMG to clarify how aging affects the coordination among the masticatory and suprahyoid muscles. We recruited elderly individuals (over 65 years old) who denied dysphagia. The sEMG activities of anterior temporalis, masseter, and suprahyoid muscles were recorded during 3, 15, and 30 ml water swallowing tests (WST). We calculated the time interval between anterior temporalis and suprahyoid peak activity (T-SH interval) and masseter and suprahyoid peak activity (M-SH interval) and analyzed their correlation with age. The subjects who could and could not swallow 30 ml of water in one gulp were further assigned into the one-gulp and piecemeal groups, respectively, for subgroup analysis. We recruited 101 subjects, among whom 75 (26 males and 49 females) were analyzed after excluding those with suspected dysphagia or low-quality sEMG recordings. Age was significantly correlated with the bilateral T-SH (left: r = 0.249, p = 0.031; right: r = 0.412, p < 0.01) and right M-SH (r = 0.242, p = 0.037) intervals in the 30 ml WST. The correlation between intervals and age were observed in both subgroups. sEMG can be used to investigate the effect of aging on the temporal coordination between masticatory and suprahyoid contraction. Further studies are needed to verify the validity of screening subclinical dysphagia in the elderly.
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Metadata
Title
Surface Electromyography for Evaluating the Effect of Aging on the Coordination of Swallowing Muscles
Authors
Wei-Han Chang
Mei-Hui Chen
Jen-Fang Liu
Wei Li Chung
Li-Ling Chiu
Yi-Fang Huang
Publication date
27-04-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Dysphagia / Issue 5/2023
Print ISSN: 0179-051X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0460
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-023-10572-3

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