Development of a method for preventing age-related decline in swallowing function

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K11860
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Community health nursing
• Research Institution: Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Shin Satoko (小野さと子) 大分県立看護科学大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (10443897)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 加齢性 / 嚥下機能低下 / 予防法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to investigate methods for preventing and improving age-related decline in swallowing function. The back of the tongue is pushed up to the soft palate with force and held for 10 seconds. The exercise was performed 5 times with a 10 second break in between.This exercise series was named "posterior lingual exercise." The exercise was performed twice a day for 2 weeks. As a result, changes in average RMS was observed a significant difference between Exercise Group and Control Group (p<.05). Posterior lingual exercise may improve suprahyoid muscle activity when swallowing, indicating that this may be an effective training method for muscle strengthening.

Free Research Field

加齢性の嚥下機能低下予防

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

誤嚥は生命を脅かす危険を伴う兆候で、原因の1つに加齢性の嚥下機能低下がある。本研究は、嚥下過程において重要な役割を担う舌骨上筋群の訓練方法として奥舌挙上運動を開発した。2週間の取り組みで嚥下時の舌骨上筋群の筋活動量が増加することを明らかにした。嚥下時の舌骨上筋群の筋活動量の増加は、嚥下反射潜時の短縮、気道閉鎖時間の維持につながり誤嚥予防に寄与するものと考える。また本法は、特定の道具や場所が必要なく、身体的負担も軽いことからあらゆる年齢層に嚥下機能低下予防法として取り組みやすい。