Effects of anterior tongue strengthening exercises on posterior tongue strength in healthy young adults.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nThe aim of the present study was to investigate whether anterior tongue muscle strengthening exercises can affect the strength of posterior tongue muscles.\n\n\nDESIGN\nEleven healthy subjects (20.6\u2009±\u20091.2 years) were included. The subjects exercised by pushing the anterior tongue to the palate 30 times, three times a day, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The exercise intensity was set at 60% of maximum tongue pressure (MTP) in the first week and 80% of MTP for the remainder of training. After the completion of training, MTP measurements were continued every month for another 3 months to evaluate whether training effects were sustained.\n\n\nRESULTS\nMTP was significantly increased after 8 weeks of training compared with before training. No significant differences were seen between MTP immediately after completion of training and MTP 1-3 months after completion of training. However, MTP was significantly higher 1-3 months after completion of training than before training.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe present study showed significant increases in both anterior and posterior MTPs by anterior tongue muscle strengthening exercises. In the future, a database on tongue muscle strengthening exercises in elderly persons, patients with dysphagia, etc. will need to be generated, with the aim of preventing frailty.