ABSTRACT

Objective : This research was carried out for the purpose of creating clinical applications for improving theswallowing function by comparing suprahyoid muscle activation at different head angles.Methods : Volunteers were collected among students attending OO university in Daejeon, Gwangyeok-si, and39 subjects (24 males and 15 females) participated in the experiment. The neutral position (a head flexion of0°) was set with a base angle of the Frankfort horizontal plane parallel to the Earth's surface; after confieringa 15°inferior and superior head angle through an X-ray scan, each angular position (head flexion 0°, headflexion 15°and head extension 15°) was tested for 3 dry swallowing and wet swallowing attempts (a 10second break after 1 swallow). Results : In both dry and wet swallowing, a 15°flexion of the head angle activates the suprahyoid musclesmore than in the neutral position, while a 15°stretching of the head angle did not have a statistically significanteffect on swallowing.Conclusion : Swallowing induced at a flexed head angle position can more greatly activate the suprahyoidmuscles and mobilize the hyoid bone; therefore, this is suggested as a safe way of eating.