Tongue Motor Recruitment During Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Procedure: Electromyography; Procedure: Maximum expiratory pressure; Procedure: Videofluoroscopy; Behavioral: Swallowing Tasks

• Registration Number: NCT02687737
• Lead Sponsor: University of Florida

Brief Summary

The prevalence of dysphagia may be as high as 22% in individuals over 50 years of age. There are few therapeutic options offered to these individuals. One more recent therapeutic option is Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST), which has been used successfully to maintain or increase expiratory force generating pressures, cough function, and swallowing in a number of disease populations. Recently, the investigators have noted improvements in oral transit time during swallowing in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) that could potentially be attributed to improved base of tongue functioning and muscle activation.

There has been one study that demonstrated that breathing training resulted in increased and prolonged submental (under the chin) muscle activation as evidenced by surface electromyography. However, no studies have investigated the activation of the tongue muscles during various swallowing and breathing exercises. A small needle electrode (fine wire EMG) is standard of care in diagnosing muscular diseases because it can determine amount of muscle recruitment for muscles throughout the body. This aim of this research study is to examine the effects of breathing exercises and swallowing exercises on tongue muscle activity in healthy adults.

Detailed Description

This study will measure tongue muscle activation using fine wire EMG placed into the tongue muscle (underneath the chin) during swallowing and breathing exercises. A neurologist trained in EMG will perform all procedures to ensure best placement and minimize discomfort of the participant. While the needle is in place, the participant will complete a series of swallowing tasks and breathing exercises using a small, handheld training device. All swallowing and breathing tasks will be viewed under x-ray in order to see the movement and timing of the tongue and swallowing muscles during each task. Participation in the study will take one, one-hour visit to the Shands Dental Tower lab spaces where all procedures will be completed.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-02-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-02-16
• Study First Posted: 2016-02-22
• Study Start: 2016-05
• Primary Completion: 2016-12
• Study Completion: 2016-12
• Status Verified: 2017-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-01-04
• Last Update Posted: 2017-01-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• No known major disease, disorder or medical conditions

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Exclusion Criteria

• Currently on anticoagulant therapy
• Has a bleeding/anticoagulant disorder or disease

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Exercise	Swallowing Tasks	The participants will have the following tests performed: Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), insertion of a fine-wire electromyography (EMG) electrode into the mid-line base of the tongue, will complete swallowing tasks and breathing tasks under Videofluoroscopy (fluoroscopy on only during the actual task)
Exercise	Maximum expiratory pressure	The participants will have the following tests performed: Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), insertion of a fine-wire electromyography (EMG) electrode into the mid-line base of the tongue, will complete swallowing tasks and breathing tasks under Videofluoroscopy (fluoroscopy on only during the actual task)
Exercise	Electromyography	The participants will have the following tests performed: Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), insertion of a fine-wire electromyography (EMG) electrode into the mid-line base of the tongue, will complete swallowing tasks and breathing tasks under Videofluoroscopy (fluoroscopy on only during the actual task)
Exercise	Videofluoroscopy	The participants will have the following tests performed: Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), insertion of a fine-wire electromyography (EMG) electrode into the mid-line base of the tongue, will complete swallowing tasks and breathing tasks under Videofluoroscopy (fluoroscopy on only during the actual task)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Kinematic Swallowing Measurements will be used to analyze a normal movement of swallowing	Baseline	Kinematic swallowing measurements is an objective analysis of videofluoroscopy. This involves capturing and manipulating digital images with computer technology to make exact timing measures of bolus flow and movement of structures, as well as spatial measurements of distance and area against reference points.
Electromyography (EMG) will be used to analyze genioglossus muscle movement	Baseline	Electromyography (EMG) activity will be recorded via standard concentric needle electrodes inserted into the genioglossus muscle. Maximum muscle activation will be recorded and analyzed to determine difference between tasks using the genioglossus muscle.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shands Hospital at the University of Florida; 🇺🇸 Gainesville, Florida, United States