Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore effects of food viscosity and sex on hyoid motion during swallowing in normal elder.MethodsVideofluoroscopic studies were done in 60 healthy elder. Hyoid motion during swallowing food with different viscosity was measured.ResultsOlder male had longer movement duration, greater amplitudes of upward and forward movement than older female (P<0.05). Amplitudes of upward movement in jam thick swallow and bread thick swallow were greater than that in liquid swallow (P<0.01). Bread thick swallow had the longest movement duration; liquid swallow had shortest movement duration.ConclusionThe hyoid bone moves both upward and forward during swallowing, the amplitude of upward displacement is highly variable and influenced by food viscosity. The duration and amplitude of hyoid motion in male or female are different.

Key words: elder, effect of food viscosity, sex, videofluoroscopy, hyoid motion