The Dynamics of Pharyngeal Shortening in Healthy Swallowing: Effects of Sex, Age, Bolus Volume and Consistency.
Dominie Yu, Renata Mancopes, Hilary Milne et al.
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In 30 seconds
This multicenter clinical study characterised pharyngeal shortening during swallowing in 80 healthy adults, balanced by sex and spanning four age groups. Videofluoroscopy was used to track upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) height during sips of thin liquid and teaspoons of mildly thick liquid. Maximum UES height occurred between UES opening and closure, near other biomechanically linked events. UES height was lower in males, while greater pharyngeal shortening was observed in males and during thin-liquid tasks. The study describes how participant sex and bolus consistency relate to UES position and shortening in healthy swallowing.
Key findings
- Maximum UES height occurred between UES opening and closure, close to other biomechanically linked swallowing events.
- UES height was lower in males than females.
- Pharyngeal shortening was greater in males and during thin-liquid tasks.
Why it matters
Characterising normal variation in UES position and pharyngeal shortening can help clinicians interpret swallowing biomechanics in context. The observed differences by sex and bolus consistency indicate that these factors may influence measurements in healthy swallowing, and should be considered when describing or comparing swallowing dynamics.
What to keep in mind
The study examined healthy adults and two specific bolus tasks; its findings do not establish how these patterns apply to people with swallowing disorders.