Sayako Shimizu, MD, Hiromichi Metani, MD, PhD, Takashi Hiraoka, MD, PhD,
Sosuke Seki, MD, PhD, Kozo Hanayama, MD, PhD, Akio Tsubahara, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 5: 97-101, 2014
Objective: To determine the relationship between
electrode position and hyoid movement for effective
surface electrical stimulation in the treatment of
dysphagia.
Methods: Surface electrode pairs targeted on the
suprahyoid muscle group were placed in mesial, distal,
or pervasive placement patterns on the skin anterior to
the suprahyoid muscle group of five healthy subjects,
and the vertical and horizontal movements of the
hyoid induced by electrical stimulation in the three
pattern groups were measured and compared.
Results: The mesial electrode-pair pattern induced
significant anterior movement of the hyoid. The distal
pattern showed a tendency to induce upward hyoid
movement. The distance of hyoid movement induced
by the electrical stimulation was about half of that
found for actual water swallowing. No significant
difference in electrical stimulus intensity was found
among the electrode patterns.
Conclusion: Surface electrical stimulation with mesial
electrode-pair placement anterior to the hyoid
presumably induces contraction of the digastric muscle
anterior belly and the geniohyoid muscle, and was
found to pull the hyoid forward. This information and
further elucidation of the relationship between surface
electrode position and hyoid movement is expected to
increase the range of clinical applications.
Key words: hyoid bone, surface electrical stimulation, suprahyoid muscle group, electrode position, selective stimulation