Speech pathology in facial aesthetics: effects of two strategies for the suprahyoid muscles

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify the effects of tongue pressure exercises against the incisive papilla, used both alone and in combination with functional swallowing training, on the electrical activity of the suprahyoid muscles and the self-perception of aesthetic changes in the submandibular region. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests were used. The significance level was set at 5%. Methods: an experimental, analytical, prospective study on 27 women, aged 30 to 78 years, divided into two treatment groups (G1 and G2), and a control group (CG). Individuals were submitted to 8 weeks of training, in which G1 performed only tongue pressure exercises against the incisive papilla, and G2 performed the same exercises in combination with swallowing training, while CG was not submitted to any intervention. The suprahyoid muscle electrical activity was obtained with surface electromyography at the beginning and end of the study when subjects also answered a self-perception questionnaire on possible aesthetic results. Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests were used. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: statistically significant differences were found between the initial and final electrical activity in both G1 and G2, which was not found in CG. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding their self-perception of visual or muscle improvements. Conclusion: both strategies analyzed were equally effective to increase suprahyoid muscle recruitment, though with no impact on the self-perception of aesthetic changes in the submandibular region. RESUMO Objetivo: verificar os efeitos do exercício de pressão de língua contra a papila incisiva, realizado de forma isolada e associada ao treino funcional da deglutição, na atividade elétrica da musculatura supra-hioidea e na autopercepção da mudança estética na região submandibular. Métodos: estudo experimental, analítico e prospectivo, realizado com 27 mulheres entre 30 e 78 anos, divididas em dois grupos de tratamento (G1 e G2) e um grupo controle (GC). Os indivíduos foram submetidos a oito semanas de treinamento, sendo que o G1 realizou somente o exercício pressão de língua contra a papila incisiva, o G2 realizou o mesmo exercício associado ao treino da deglutição e o GC não foi submetido a qualquer intervenção. A atividade elétrica da musculatura supra-hioidea foi obtida por meio da eletromiografia de superfície