Tongue strength rehabilitation using biofeedback: Case report

Abstract

This research had the objective of reporting a clinical case in which the rehabilitation of tongue strength with biofeedback strategy was performed. It is about a 20-year-old patient whose orofacial myofunctional evaluation revealed a severe decrease in the force of the anterior third of the tongue and alterations in lingual mobility and coordination. The measurement of lingual pressure was performed using the IOPI during elevation, protrusion and lateralization, and a reduction in the values obtained in all measured directions, compared to normality patterns, was verified. We performed 11 sessions of therapy, with weekly frequency, using biofeedback strategy that consisted of computer games controlled by the tongue. An instrument embedded in the oral cavity functioned as a joystick, being the input method for specific digital games. The patient performed at home the isometric exercises of pressing the tip of tongue against a spatula, exaggerated retraction of tongue, tongue tapering and isotonic exercise of touching the commissures and lips alternately daily. After eight sessions, in relation to the elevation pressure, there was an improvement of 28.6% for the apex and 7.1% for the back. As for protrusion, there was an improvement of 123.5%. In the measurements of left and right lateralization, the values increased 53.8% and 7.4%, respectively. After twelve sessions, 35.7%, 7.4%, 164%, 76.9% and 40.7% improvement was observed in relation to the initial evaluation, for apex elevation, back elevation, protrusion, lateralization left and right, respectively. Despite the increase, values recommended in the literature as normal for sex and age were not reached with 12 sessions.