Clinical assessment tools, an imminent need

Abstract

Introduction: Swallowing is a neuromuscular cycle in which food follows a series of stages to be transported to the stomach (1). Various neuromotor components intervene in this cycle, enabling the process to be carried out functionally. The term "components" refers to anatomical points of functional articulation that perform a specific action controlled by neural networks that provide somatosensory factors. These functional anatomical points are called swallowing valves, which allow the opening and closing of different points in the biomechanics of food intake, responsible for protecting the airway and directing the food bolus from the mouth to the stomach. A functional error in any of these neuroanatomical components will interfere with the proper swallowing process, resulting in the person being unable to eat properly (2). This functional perspective allows the evaluation to characterize the process based on the motor dynamics by valves, which would support not only the diagnostic determination, but also therapeutic projections (3).