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Proposal for an evaluating protocol for the electrical activity of masseter and suprahyoid muscles in newborn preterm infants during the feeding

PURPOSE: present a protocol for evaluating the electrical activity of the masseter and supra-hyoid in newborn preterm infants during feeding. METHOD: the information was gathered from papers catalogued in Lilacs and MEDLINE, and printed literature in order to identify protocols used in national and international studies on electromyographic evaluation in infants during feeding, prioritizing the last fifteen years. Information was also collected from protocols used in research with other populations that could be used as a theoretical basis for this study. From the reading and analyzing the found materials, an initial electromyographic evaluation protocol was drawn up and was applied in six newborn preterm infants, to verify its applicability. RESULTS: the literature search and testing in the population led to a protocol composed by sub-definition of muscles evaluated, recommendations for skin preparation, electrode placement, positioning for evaluation, normalization of the signal for the evaluation activities, and suggestions analysis and interpretation of the signal. CONCLUSION: the study shows the possibility of applying this protocol in the evaluation of muscle electromyography in preterm infants, during feeding. The masseter and supra-hyoid are recommended as a good option for studying the electrical activity of muscles activated during feeding in preterm infants. The protocol also recommended procedures for standardizing the signal for better interpretation of data.

Evaluation; Electromyography; Masseter Muscle; Infant, Premature; Protocols; Infant, Newborn


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