Tongue Motor Recruitment During Exercise

During the fine wire electromyography (EMG), the participant will be asked to complete breathing exercises at 50% and 75% of their maximum capacity (determined prior to fine wire EMG using manometry) to determine activation and recruitment of genioglossus muscle.

The participants' maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) will be assessed using a hand-held digital manometer (MP01, Micro Direct Inc.). The subject will be standing and while wearing a nose clip be asked to blow out as hard and fast as they can to determine their MEP. This will be completed a maximum of three times to obtain values within close range of one another.

Videofluoroscopy allows for time-synced, frame-by-frame data analysis for the specific measures taken during swallowing tasks.

"These include: an anterior tongue press to the alveolar ridge (behind the front molars), a saliva swallow, a 10 mL barium swallow, a 10 mL barium hard swallow (i.e. swallowing with extra effort), and two breathing exercise trials at 50% MEP and 75% MEP."