Tongue stretching exercises improve tongue motility and oromotor function in patients with dysphagia after stroke: A preliminary randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of tongue stretching exercises (TSE) on tongue motility and oromotor function in patients with dysphagia after stroke.

Design: This study was designed as a 4-week, double-blind, two-group, block randomized controlled trial. A total of 25 patients were randomly allocated into either the experimental (n = 13) or the control group (n = 12). The experimental group received TSE from an occupational therapist. TSE were divided into dynamic and static passive stretching exercises (20 repetitions each). The intervention was performed five times a week for four weeks. Tongue motility was measured before and after the intervention as the distance from the lower lip to the tip of tongue during maximum protrusion of the tongue. Measurements were performed twice each time and the mean value recorded. Oromotor function was assessed using the oral phase events of the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study.

Results: The experimental group showed significant differences in tongue motility, bolus formation, tongue to palate contact, premature bolus loss, and oral transit time in the oral phase of VDS (p < 0.05 for all) before and after the intervention, whereas the control group showed a significant difference only in lip closure (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that TSE have a positive effect on tongue motility and oromotor function in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Therefore, we recommend TSE as an effective treatment for dysphagia.

Keywords: Function; Motility; Muscle stretching exercises; Oral dysphagia; Oromotor; Swallowing; Swallowing study; Tongue; Videofluoroscopic.