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The Effect of Bolus Consistency on Hyoid Velocity in Healthy Swallowing

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether measures of hyoid velocity increase when swallowing liquids of thicker consistency at a constant volume. A gender-balanced sample of 20 healthy young participants (mean age 31.5) each swallowed 3 boluses of 5 ml volume in 3 consistencies (ultrathin, thin, and nectar-thick barium). Using frame-by-frame tracking of hyoid position, we identified the onset and peak of the hyoid movement and derived measures of velocity (i.e., distance in anatomically normalized units, i.e., % of the C2-4 vertebral distance, divided by duration in ms) for the X, Y, and XY movement directions. Peak hyoid velocity was also identified for each movement direction. Where significant differences were identified, the component measures of hyoid movement distance and duration were further explored to determine the strategies used to alter velocity. The results showed increased velocities and higher peak velocities with the nectar-thick stimuli compared to thin and ultrathin stimuli. This was achieved by a primary strategy of larger hyoid movement distances per unit of time when swallowing nectar-thick liquids. These results point to one mechanism by which thickened liquids may contribute to improved airway protection by facilitating more timely laryngeal vestibule closure.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported through doctoral research funding to the second author from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada) Create CARE program, the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund, and the Ontario Graduate Studies scholarship program. Additional funding support came from National Institutes of Health R01DC011020 to the final author. The authors thank Sarah Hori, Chelsea Leigh, and Clemence Yee for assistance with data collection and analysis and acknowledge the support of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute—University Health Network, which receives funding under the Provincial Rehabilitation Research Program from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care in Ontario. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, #12-101, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada

    Ahmed Nagy, Sonja M. Molfenter, Melanie Péladeau-Pigeon, Shauna Stokely & Catriona M. Steele

  2. University of Fayoum, Al Fayoum, Egypt

    Ahmed Nagy

  3. New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Sonja M. Molfenter

  4. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Catriona M. Steele

  5. Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Catriona M. Steele

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  1. Ahmed Nagy
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  2. Sonja M. Molfenter
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  3. Melanie Péladeau-Pigeon
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  4. Shauna Stokely
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  5. Catriona M. Steele
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Correspondence to Catriona M. Steele.

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Nagy, A., Molfenter, S.M., Péladeau-Pigeon, M. et al. The Effect of Bolus Consistency on Hyoid Velocity in Healthy Swallowing. Dysphagia 30, 445–451 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-015-9621-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-015-9621-6

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