OBJECTIVETo study the surface electromyography (sEMG) changes of globus patients during swallowing and to discuss the cause of the globus.

METHODSThe sEMG during swallowing was recorded in 126 healthy volunteers (control group) and 34 globus patients (globus group).Swallow included dry swallow and 20 ml water swallow. The durations and amplitudes of muscle activities during every swallow were recorded. The durations and amplitudes of the sEMG in two groups were compared using t test.

RESULTSThe durations of sEMG at dry swallow and 20 ml water swallow were (1.128 ± 0.191)s and (1.091 ± 0.208)s, while the amplitudes were (0.313 ± 0.110) mV and (0.286 ± 0.106) mV in control group. The durations of sEMG at dry swallow and 20 ml water swallow were (1.178 ± 0.252)s and (1.127 ± 0.178)s, while the amplitudes were (0.341 ± 0.116) mV and (0.316 ± 0.094) mV in globus group. There were no significant differences between globus patients and healthy volunteers in the durations and amplitudes of sEMG at dry swallow and 20 ml water swallow (P > 0.05).Furthermore, there were also no significant differences in the durations and amplitudes of the sEMG between the two groups in the same gender (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of swallowing sEMG suggested that the swallowing function in globus patients has not been damaged and psychological intervention should be considered in the treatment.