2016 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 100-107
Purpose：This study investigated the effect of the“thyroid cartilage part skin traction”maneuver on a sequence of swallowing events in elderly dysphagic patients.
Method：Eighteen elderly dysphagic patients were asked to swallow 5 ml of moderately thick barium during videofluorography（VF）with and without the thyroid cartilage part skin traction. We analyzed the hyoid bone position（resting position, starting swallowing reflex position, highest position, and finishing swallowing reflex position）, we also measured the time of hyoid movement（first elevation phase, second elevation phase, standing phase, and descending phase）, opening width of the upper esophageal sphincter（UES）, and the UES opening duration. The data for these parameters were compared between traction swallowing and normal swallowing.
Results：The thyroid cartilage part skin traction maneuver significantly changed in the hyoid position, decreased the total hyoid movement distance, increased the duration of the standing phase during hyoid movement, and increased the UES opening width and time.
Conclusion：These results show that the maneuver may support hyoid movement and may aid swallowing in elderly dysphagic patients.
