![2015 University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research](../../../../assets/md5images/2d7dcd3c18217e5f8b209bfc499f60b6.gif)
Poster Session #1: South UC Ballroom
Assessing the Feasibility of a New Tongue Base Retraction Exercise
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Laurie Slovarp
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Communicative Sciences and Disorders
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Tongue base retraction (TBR) is a process that helps move food or liquid from the mouth to the esophagus. Tongue base retraction exercises for patients who have swallowing impairment, or dysphagia, are used to help improve the muscle strength necessary for successful tongue base retraction. For this study, muscle strength will be measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) and electrodes placed on the submental triangle (the muscle below the chin). The purpose of this research is to assess differences in TBR strength during six different types of TBR exercises in order to assess feasibility of a new TBR exercise. There will be one group of participants who will perform six conditions. Each participant will perform a simple saliva swallow, a swallow after drinking water, an extra hard swallow called an effortful swallow, two current TBR exercises, and a TBR exercise that utilizes a new resistance device developed by Laurie Slovarp. The conditions will be randomized, so there is no concern that each type of TBR affects the next type. The sEMG values from each condition will be contrasted to determine which exercise elicits the strongest muscle contraction and if the resistance device used during a TBR exercise could be feasible in treatment of dysphagia.
Category
Social Sciences
Assessing the Feasibility of a New Tongue Base Retraction Exercise
South UC Ballroom
Tongue base retraction (TBR) is a process that helps move food or liquid from the mouth to the esophagus. Tongue base retraction exercises for patients who have swallowing impairment, or dysphagia, are used to help improve the muscle strength necessary for successful tongue base retraction. For this study, muscle strength will be measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) and electrodes placed on the submental triangle (the muscle below the chin). The purpose of this research is to assess differences in TBR strength during six different types of TBR exercises in order to assess feasibility of a new TBR exercise. There will be one group of participants who will perform six conditions. Each participant will perform a simple saliva swallow, a swallow after drinking water, an extra hard swallow called an effortful swallow, two current TBR exercises, and a TBR exercise that utilizes a new resistance device developed by Laurie Slovarp. The conditions will be randomized, so there is no concern that each type of TBR affects the next type. The sEMG values from each condition will be contrasted to determine which exercise elicits the strongest muscle contraction and if the resistance device used during a TBR exercise could be feasible in treatment of dysphagia.