Preliminary approach for the surface electromyographical evaluation of the oral phase of swallowing.

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Preliminary approach for the surface electromyographical evaluation of the oral phase of swallowing.

J Oral Rehabil. 2018 May 02;:

Authors: Dellavia C, Rosati R, Musto F, Pellegrini G, Begnoni G, Ferrario VF

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Swallowing is a muscular activity that occurs both after mastication and spontaneously as a result of saliva accumulation. Spontaneous saliva swallowing occurs about every 2 min. Comprehension of its functional mechanisms is relevant to assess their modification in clinical situations. A standardized surface electromyographical (ssEMG) protocol for the evaluation of this muscle activity is lacking.
OBJECTIVES: i)to determine the reproducibility of a ssEMG protocol for the evaluation of the oral phase of saliva swallowing, ii)to evaluate the activity of masseter(MM), anterior temporalis(TA), submental muscles(SM) to draw a reference model of swallowing.
METHODS: ssEMG activity of MM, TA and SM during swallowing of saliva spontaneously accumulated was recorded in 20 healthy participants. Functional indexes including symmetry (POC), recruitment (Impact), duration of activation of each couple of muscles and of the whole exercise, position, intensity of the spike were computed. Inter and intra-appointment reliabilities were assessed and method errors calculated. Descriptive statistics, sex and muscles-related comparisons were done.
RESULTS: ssEMG assessment of MM, TA, SM muscles was reliable. A high inter-individual variability was found. POC values were close to 80% for TA and SM, higher than for MM (P < 0.001). Impact values ranged between 16.4%-30.7% and differences were found between muscles (P < 0.001). The global muscle activity during swallowing lasted between 1.5-1.8s. For each couple of muscles the duration of activation ranged between 0.7-1.6s and muscles-related differences were found (P < 0.001). The spike of activation for each couple of muscle ranged between 35.7-44.2% of the duration.
CONCLUSIONS: The protocol was reliable and intra-participants repeatable measures can be done. Due to the high inter-participants variability further analyses are needed to draw a model of muscular activity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 29719051 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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