Association Between Cervical Range of Motion and Swallowing Speed in Older Women After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) may induce acute alterations in spinopelvic alignment and compel the cervical spine to compensate for postural balance. Although these changes may biomechanically affect swallowing speed, the relationship between cervical range of motion (ROM) and swallowing speed in older adults after THA remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between cervical ROM and swallowing speed in older women after THA.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 60 older women (mean age 71.6 ± 5.5 years) without clinically significant self-reported dysphagia (10-item eating assessment tool < 3) undergoing rehabilitation after THA. Swallowing speed was assessed using a 100-mL water swallowing test. Cervical ROM (flexion and extension) was measured using a CROM3 device. Multiple regression analyses were performed adjusting for age, potentially inappropriate medications, and maximum tongue pressure (MTP) to investigate the association between swallowing speed and cervical ROM.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis showed a weak positive correlation between cervical extension ROM and swallowing speed (rs = 0.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02 to 0.49, p = 0.036). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that cervical extension ROM (Estimate: 0.054, 95% CI: 0.011 to 0.097, β = 0.310, p = 0.015) and MTP (Estimate: 0.079, 95% CI: 0.012 to 0.146, β = 0.294, p = 0.021) were independently associated with swallowing speed.

DISCUSSION: Restricted cervical extension ROM was weakly associated with decreased swallowing speed in older women after THA. This association suggests only a modest relationship without direct predictive value for clinical swallowing speed. Therefore, evaluating cervical extension ROM may be considered an adjunctive observation rather than a screening tool for swallowing dysfunction.