High-Density Surface Electromyography for Swallowing Evaluation in Post-Radiation Dysphagia

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Swallowing Disorders Research

Background:

• Head and neck radiation therapy can lead to significant swallowing impairments (dysphagia).
• Accurate assessment of swallowing function is crucial for patient management and rehabilitation.
• Current assessment methods may not fully capture the complex biomechanics of swallowing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) for assessing swallowing.
• To compare quantitative HD-sEMG parameters and topographic patterns between post-irradiated patients and healthy individuals.
• To explore the utility of HD-sEMG in identifying dysphagia-related muscle activity alterations.

Main Methods:

• Recruited ten healthy volunteers and ten post-irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.
• Recorded 96-channel HD-sEMG during the consumption of various food consistencies.
• Generated dynamic topography from root mean square (RMS) of HD-sEMG signals to analyze muscle function and swallowing symmetry.

Main Results:

• Observed distinct swallowing patterns between patients with dysphagia and healthy individuals.
• Noted higher mean RMS values in the patient group, though not statistically significant.
• Identified asymmetrical muscle activation patterns in patients experiencing dysphagia.

Conclusions:

• HD-sEMG demonstrates potential as a quantitative tool for evaluating neck muscle power during swallowing.
• The technique shows promise for assessing the symmetry of swallowing activities in individuals with swallowing difficulties.
• HD-sEMG may offer objective insights into the functional deficits associated with post-treatment dysphagia.