Swallowing disorders in Parkinson's disease: impact of lingual pumping

• Published in: International journal of language & communication disorders Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 659 - 664
• Main Authors: Argolo, Natalie, Sampaio, Marília, Pinho, Patrícia, Melo, Ailton, Nóbrega, Ana Caline
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2015; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Brazil; Deglutition - physiology; deglutition disorders; Deglutition Disorders - diagnosis; Deglutition Disorders - physiopathology; Diagnostic Tests; Diseases; Female; Fluoroscopy; Food; Human Body; Humans; Incidence; lingual pumping; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Reactions; Neurological Impairments; Nutrition; Parkinson Disease - diagnosis; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Patients; Physiology; Prevention; Psychomotor Skills; Respiratory Aspiration - diagnosis; Respiratory Aspiration - physiopathology; Tongue Habits; Video Technology; Brazil; lingual pumping; deglutition disorders; Parkinson's disease
• ISSN: 1368-2822; 1460-6984
• DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.12158

Background
Lingual pumping (LP) is a repetitive, involuntary, anteroposterior movement of the tongue on the soft palate that is executed prior to transferring the food bolus to the pharynx, but we also observed LP when multiple swallows were taken. LP may be associated with rigidity and bradykinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This phenomenon tends to be more prevalent in dysphagic PD patients, and its impact on swallowing dynamics remains poorly understood.
Objective
To evaluate how LP interferes with the oral and pharyngeal phases of the swallowing of foods of different consistencies and volumes.
Methods
We used videofluoroscopy to study the swallowing of 69 PD patients performing 10 swallows of barium mixed with foods of different consistencies and volumes.
Results
LP was associated with the unstable intra‐oral organization of the bolus, the loss of bolus control, the pharyngeal retention of food and food entering the airway. This abnormal movement was also associated with a shorter oral transit time and was found to be more prevalent with food of thicker consistencies.
Conclusions
LP is associated with swallowing incoordination and with food entering the airway. Preventive measures to minimise the pulmonary or nutritional consequences of this behaviour are necessary.