Effects of Tongue-Strengthening Exercise on Tongue Strength and Effortful Swallowing Pressure in Young Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tonguestrengthening exercise (TSE) on tongue strength and effortful swallowing pressure in young healthy adults. Method: Thirteen young healthy volunteers (six men, seven women; Mage = 20.5 ± 0.5 years) performed 8 weeks of isometric TSE 3 days per week. A tongue pressure measurement device was used to measure maximum isometric tongue pressure (MITP) and conduct the TSE, and a tactile sensor system attached to the hard palate was used to measure effortful swallowing pressure. MITP and effortful swallowing pressure were measured at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of training, and at 4 and 8 weeks after the last training session to examine the detraining effects. Results: The results indicated that both MITP and effortful swallowing pressure increased significantly from baseline to 8 weeks after training. Although the improved MITP significantly decreased at 4 and 8 weeks after training cessation, no detraining effect was observed for effortful swallowing pressure. Conclusions: TSE is an effective method for increasing tongue pressure in wide tongue–palate contact areas during effortful swallow. The effortful swallowing pressure gained with TSE appears to be maintained for at least eight nontraining weeks.