Relationship Between Swallowing Dynamics and Suprahyoid Muscle Activity in Sarcopenic Dysphagia

Sarcopenic dysphagia is defined as swallowing difficulty among the elderly due to the loss of whole body skeletal and swallowing muscle mass and function. However, the pathophysiology and dynamics of swallowing in sarcopenic dysphagia have been poorly investigated. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the characteristics of sarcopenic dysphagia using the Videofluoroscopic study (VFSS) focusing on each phase of dysphagia, and surface Electromyography (surface EMG) to assess suprahyoid muscle activity.

In sarcopenic dysphagia, impairments will occur in both the oral and pharyngeal phases, particularly affecting bolus formation, premature bolus spillage and laryngeal elevation during swallowing due to the loss of swallowing muscle mass and function. These changes will be considered to have led to an change of duration and amplitude of suprahyoid muscle activity measured via surface EMG.