title: How do tablet properties influence swallowing behaviours?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Behavioural performance of tablet swallowing was evaluated with different tablet conditions in terms of size, number and surface coating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four different types of tablets were prepared: small or large, and with or without a surface coating. Fourteen normal male adults were instructed to swallow the prepared tablets with 15 ml of water. The number of tablets in one trial was changed from one to three. To evaluate swallowing and tablet transport, electromyographic activity was recorded in the left suprahyoid muscles, and videofluorographic images were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All tablet conditions (size, number and surface coating) affected the swallowing performance in terms of total number of swallows, electromyographic burst patterns and location of remaining tablets. Increases in the size and number of tablets increased the number of swallows and electromyographic burst area and duration. In addition, all of these parameters increased while swallowing tablets without a coating compared with tablets with a coating. Location of the remaining tablets was mainly within the mouth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study only clarified the normal pattern of tablet swallowing under several conditions in healthy subjects, but the results may facilitate comprehensive evaluation and treatment planning in terms of administering medication to dysphagic patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujimura
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth; D010316:Particle Size; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013607:Tablets
keywords: dysphagia; electromyogram; human; swallow; tablet