Linking swallowing problems to suprahyoid muscle activity in sarcopenic dysphagia
Relationship Between Swallowing Dynamics and Suprahyoid Muscle Activity in Sarcopenic Dysphagia
This project tests whether older adults with sarcopenia who have swallowing difficulty show altered suprahyoid muscle activity on surface EMG that corresponds to phase-specific problems seen on videofluoroscopy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Inha University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Incheon, Jung-gu) |
| Trial ID | NCT07198568 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is an observational study enrolling people aged 65 and older diagnosed with sarcopenia who undergo videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and surface electromyography (sEMG) of the suprahyoid muscles. Investigators will record VFSS to characterize oral and pharyngeal phase swallowing dynamics and use sEMG to measure suprahyoid muscle amplitude and duration during swallowing tasks. Participants with major neurologic, structural, or cognitive causes of dysphagia are excluded to focus on sarcopenic mechanisms. The study will analyze relationships between sEMG signal patterns and specific VFSS abnormalities such as bolus formation, premature spillage, and laryngeal elevation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 or older diagnosed with sarcopenia by AWGS 2019 criteria who can follow instructions for VFSS and surface EMG and do not have excluded neurologic or structural causes of dysphagia.
Not a fit: Patients with prior stroke, neuromuscular disease, tracheostomy, or structural head/neck or esophageal disease and those unable to follow instructions are unlikely to benefit from the study’s sarcopenia-specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help clinicians diagnose phase-specific swallowing deficits linked to muscle weakness and guide targeted rehabilitation for older adults with sarcopenic dysphagia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown distinct suprahyoid sEMG patterns in dysphagia and a small study examined sEMG in sarcopenic dysphagia, but combining detailed VFSS phase analysis with sEMG in this population has been limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 65 years of age or older who underwent VFSS to evaluate the presence of dysphagia * Patient who diagnosed with sarcopenia based on the cutoff values of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 * Cognitive ability to follow instructions for Videofluoroscopic swallowing study, surface electromyography. Exclusion Criteria: * History of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction * History of neuromuscular diseases that could lead to dysphagia such as Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-Barre disease * History of Tracheostomy * History of oropharyngeal cancer * History of esophageal structural disease that could lead to dysphagia * History of connective tissue disease * History of cervical surgical procedure * Cognitive impairment who cannot follow instructions for Videofluoroscopic swallowing study, surface electromyography
Where this trial is running
Incheon, Jung-gu
- Inha University Hospital — Incheon, Jung-gu, South Korea (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Moon Jung Kim
- Email: rlaanswjd1997@gmail.com
- Phone: +821055605875
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.