PURPOSE: to verify the possibility of swallowing evaluation in subjects with and without swallowing disorders by the analysis of electromyographic (EMG) traces, search for specific characteristics and association with clinical examination and electromyography. METHOD: 39 subjects were divided into two groups: research (GP) 25 subjects with swallowing disorders and (CG) 14 without these disorders. Equipment Miotool 200/400 USB, 4 channels, with electrodes bilaterally on the submental region. Swallowing of saliva and of 5ml of water was registered. The EMG records were reviewed by three judges, after provided the EMG traces. The records were classified into normal and abnormal (single peak, more than one peak, not defined peak, changes in the onset/offset). Test of equality of two proportions was used. RESULTS: for both groups it was obtained a large number of records with unexpected swallows. The results for GP showed the highest percentage of altered swallowing of saliva records, but no statistical differences between groups was found. GC presented various types of swallowing records of saliva without significant prevalence; GP presented predominance of "more than one peak". In swallowing of water, GC showed predominance of "single peak" and a lower incidence of "more than one peak" and GP showed predominance of "single peak" and lower incidence of "not defined peak". CONCLUSION: analysis of EMG traces didn´t show specific characteristics and differences for groups, not reflecting patterns that could characterize the records in subjects with and without clinical swallowing. No correlation between clinical and EMG of swallowing was possible.
Electromyography; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Neck Muscles; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
