The Effects of Lingual Exercise on Swallowing in Older Adults

TLDR

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of an 8‑week progressive lingual resistance exercise program on swallowing function in older adults at high risk for dysphagia. Participants (10 adults aged 70–89) performed an 8‑week lingual resistance exercise using an air‑filled bulb, with swallowing and isometric pressures measured at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 6, and videofluoroscopic evaluations at baseline and week 8 (plus MRI for a subset). All participants showed significant increases in isometric and swallowing pressures, and those who underwent MRI exhibited an average 5.1 % rise in lingual volume, indicating that lingual resistance exercise may prevent dysphagia from sarcopenia and improve outcomes for frail older adults.

Abstract

To determine the effects of an 8-week progressive lingual resistance exercise program on swallowing in older individuals, the most "at risk" group for dysphagia.Prospective cohort intervention study.Subjects were recruited from the community at large.Ten healthy men and women aged 70 to 89.Each subject performed an 8-week lingual resistance exercise program consisting of compressing an air-filled bulb between the tongue and hard palate.At baseline and Week 8, each subject completed a videofluoroscopic swallowing evaluation for kinematic and bolus flow assessment of swallowing. Swallowing pressures and isometric pressures were collected at baseline and Weeks 2, 4, and 6. Four of the subjects also underwent oral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure lingual volume.All subjects significantly increased their isometric and swallowing pressures. All subjects who had the MRI demonstrated increased lingual volume of an average of 5.1%.The findings indicate that lingual resistance exercise is promising not only for preventing dysphagia due to sarcopenia, but also as a treatment strategy for patients with lingual weakness and swallowing disability due to frailty or other age-related conditions. The potential effect of lingual exercise on reducing dysphagia-related comorbidities (pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration) and healthcare costs while improving quality of life is encouraging.