Background: Recently, a new method of dysphagia rehabilitation using Kinesio taping (KT) has been attempted and demonstrated an immediate increase in the activation of the suprahyoid muscle during swallowing in healthy adults. Objectives: To investigate the effect of dysphagia rehabilitation using KT on the thickness change of the suprahyoid muscle in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Design: Two-group pre-post design. Methods: In this study, 20 patients with dysphagia after stroke were enrolled and assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group applied KT to the front of the neck and repeatedly swallowed against the tension of the tape. On the other hand, the control group performed repeated swallowing without applying KT. Patients in both groups had swallowed 50 times a day/5 times a week for 4 weeks. For evaluation, the volume of the geniohyoid, mylohyoid, and digastric muscle was measured before and after the intervention using portable ultrasound equipment. Results: As a result of comparing the two groups after the intervention, the experimental group showed more volume increase in mylohyoid (P<.05) and digastric muscle (P<.05) than the control group. Conclusion: This study proved that suprahyoid muscle resistance exercise using KT is effective in increasing the volume of the suprahyoid muscle.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) on the suprahyoid muscle activation and swallowing function of stroke patients.Methods : This study randomly assigned 21 stroke patients to an experimental group and a control group. Four-week EMST was performed at resistance of 70% of the maximum expiratory pressure with the experimental group and at resistance of 20% of that with the control group. Evaluation was conducted using surface Electromyographic (sEMG), Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS), and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) based on Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS).Results : There was a statistically significant difference in the activation of the suprahyoid muscles using sEMG of the experimental group (p<.05) while there was no significant difference in that of the control group. Both group showed significant difference in the pharyngeal phase of VDS and PAS. Also in the comparison of variation in VDS and PAS before and after the intervention, there were statistically.Conclusion : Finding from this study confirmed that EMST applied 70% maximum expiratory resistance would be a remedial method which could help activate pharyngeal dysphagia patients’ suprahyoid muscles and improve swallowing function.

목적 : 본 연구는 머리 각도에 따른 목뿔위근육의 활성 정도를 확인하여 임상에서 삼킴 기능 증진을 위한 치료적 적용시 목뿔위근육들이 보다 활성화 되는 자세를 확인하고 이를 치료에 적용하기 위하여 시행되었다. 연구 방법 : 대전광역시 OO대학교에 재학중인 학생들을 대상으로 실험참가 대상자들을 모집하여, 지원자 중 무작위로 39명의 학생(남 24명, 여 15명)들을 선정하여 실험을 진행하였다. 프랑크포트 수평면이 지면과 수평이 되는 각도를 기준으로 머리각도 중립 자세(head flexion 0°)를 설정하였으며, 방사선 촬영을 통하여 머리각도 15°하방, 머리각도 15°상방 상태를 확인한 후, 각각의 상태(머리 중립 0°, 머리 굴곡 15°, 머리 신전 15°)에서 3회씩(1회 삼킴 후 10초 휴식) 마른 삼킴과 젖은 삼킴을 시도하였다. 결과 : 마른 삼킴과 젖은 삼킴 모두에서 중립시보다 머리 각도를 15°굴곡하였을 경우 목뿔위근육들이 보다 활성화되는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이에 반하여 머리 각도를 15°신전하여 삼킴을 시도하였을 경우에는 통계적으로 유의할만한 결과를 보이지 않았다. 결론 : 머리를 굴곡시킨 자세에서 삼킴을 유도하는 것이 좀더 목뿔위근육을 활성화시키고 목뿔의 가동성을 높여, 보다 안전한 식이를 위한 방법으로 제안될 수 있을 것이다.