Development of evaluation method for nasopharyngeal closure function evaluation

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Epidemiology and preventive medicine
• Research Institution: Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare
• Principal Investigator: IKENO Masahiro 川崎医療福祉大学, リハビリテーション学部, 講師 (60612976)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 福永 真哉 川崎医療福祉大学, リハビリテーション学部, 教授 (00296188) ; 永見 慎輔 川崎医療福祉大学, 医療技術学部, 助教 (60744042)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 鼻咽腔閉鎖機能 / 構音障害 / 摂食嚥下障害 / リハビリテーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The evaluation of the nasopharyngeal closure function requires measurement by a device, and it is not connected to general purpose because the measurement conditions and expensive devices are used.
In this study, we examined the influence of the measurement posture on the measurement of nasopharyngeal closure function in young healthy subjects, middle-aged and elderly subjects, and dysarthria. The measurement conditions were 0 degree supine position, 45 degree reclining position, and 90 degree sitting position, and the test sentences were read aloud to measure the nasalization rate of each. As a result, a significant difference was found between the measured angles in young healthy people, healthy old people, and dysarthria. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to consider the angle when measuring the nasopharyngeal closure function, which may affect the results.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた成果は，急増する誤嚥性肺炎の罹患率を減少させるための一助になると考えられる．誤嚥性肺炎発症には，口腔諸器官の運動機能低下が要因となるがそれらの一部に鼻咽腔閉鎖機能も含まれているが，現在まで詳細な評価法は検討されてこなかった．本研究では，これらの機能を評価するための諸条件を検討し，測定姿勢と測定値には関連性があるという新知見を得た．
本結果は，今後のリハビリテーション分野における鼻咽腔閉鎖機能評価の条件設定の際に重要になると考えらえる．