2017 Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 61-70
Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between neck muscle strength and swallowing function in the elderly.
Methods: The subjects were a healthy group of eight people and a hospitalization group of 26 people (70–89 yrs). Neck muscle strength measurement, repetitive saliva deglutition test (RSST), modified water swallow test (MWST), grip strength measurement, articulation and ADL were evaluated. The statistical analysis included an intraclass correlation coefficient analysis, a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis, a partial correlation analysis, and a multiple regression analysis. Both the healthy group and the hospitalization group were classified by presence or absence of dysphagia, and a Mann-Whitney U-test was performed.
Results: ICC in the healthy group was 0.921. In the hospitalized group, age, MWST and grip strength correlated with neck muscle strength. All variables of the dysphagia group were significantly lower than those of the non-dysphagia group. In the multiple regression analysis, OD (/ta/) was an independent variable for neck muscle strength.
Conclusions: It was suggested that neck muscle strength is correlated with swallowing function in the elderly.
