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Volume: 41 - Issue: 3

First page: 134 - Last page: 141

M. Vaiman - E. Eviatar - S. Segal

Objectives: The present study was performed to investigate the best way of using surface electromyography
(sEMG) in evaluation of muscle involvement in nasal valve function. The
function of the nasal muscles in nasal valve movements has not been investigated sufficiently
and in the present study we tried to improve the way of testing these muscles introducing the
intranasal placement of surface EMG electrodes.
Methods: Skin surface electromyography (EMG) and intranasal electrode EMG investigation
of nasal muscles was performed in two groups (n=30 for each Group) of healthy subjects: (1)
subjects with extremely effective coordination of nasal muscles and (2) those with extremely
poor coordination of nasal muscles. Functions of the nasal muscles were assessed by EMG
in response to breathing and voluntary nasal movements.
Results: In both Groups, during normal breathing all the tested muscles were not active.
During forced nasal inspiration in Group 1 the transverse nasalis, anomalous nasi, alar
nasalis and dilator naris anterior were active. In Group 2 during forced nasal inspiration
these muscles remained inactive. During rhythmic widening of the nostril, the tested nasal
muscles were active in subjects of Group 1 and significantly less active in Group 2
(p=0.0024). In both Groups the amplitude of muscle activity, recorded from intranasal electrodes
was significantly higher that the amplitude recorded from the skin electrodes (p<0.05).
During the tests with two intranasal electrodes, the insignificant difference was detected in
amplitude between left and right nostrils in majority of subjects (Group 1 p=0.15; Group 2
p=0.1).
Conclusion: We conclude that in human population the ability to operate nasal muscles is
varying from person to person, i.e. the nasal muscles can be either inactive (“relatively rudimentary�)
or active. This fact should be taken into account before any surgical intervention is
planned. The subjects with active nasal muscles can control the function of their nasal valve.
The intranasal surface EMG is a more direct and precise EMG method for nasal valve evaluation
in comparison to skin surface EMG testing.

Rhinology 41-3: 134-141, 2003