PURPOSE: to evaluate by the surface electromyography the behavior of the sternocleidomastoid and cervical paraspinalis muscles, bilaterally in patients who use esofagic and artificial larynx as alternative to talk and to determine if these conditions modify the cervical muscles behavior. METHODS: ten volunteers were evaluated (two women, eight men), with average age: 49. 7 years, with total laryngectomy, average time of postoperative: 2.6 years, with neck movements limitation, divided in two groups: group 1 with five volunteers (artificial larynx); group 2 with five volunteers (esofagic voice); and group 3 control (seven volunteers). RESULTS: there was no significant difference in the muscular activation pattern during phonation in individuals with esofagic voice and the artificial larynx compared to the control group, however, in the rest condition, there was a significant difference comparing the average values of Root Mean Square (RMS) of groups 1 and 2 with group 3, for the right sternocleidomastoid muscle and the right cervical paraspinalis muscles. CONCLUSION: the vocal option did not interfere on the muscular activation pattern during the phonation, as well as there was no difference in the muscular activation pattern comparing the experimental groups with the control group.
Electromyography; Laringectomy; Speech, Esophageal; Larynx, Artificial
