Motor Imagery Practice and Increased Tongue Strength: A Case Series Feasibility Report

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a 6-week progressive resistance tongue exercise protocol in mental practice form on tongue strength. Investigation begins in typically aging adults, a population susceptible to reduced tongue strength and dysphagia secondary to age-relate...

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Published in:Journal of speech, language, and hearing research language, and hearing research, 2019-06, Vol.62 (6), p.1676-1684
Main Authors: Szynkiewicz, Sarah H, Nobriga, Christina V, O'Donoghue, Cynthia R, Becerra, Benjamin J, LaForge, Garret
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Aging (Individuals)
Brain research
Cognition
Control Groups
Deglutition disorders
Dysphagia
Elderly patients
Emulation
Evidence
Exercise
Feasibility studies
Females
Human Body
Imagery
Investigations
Muscular Strength
Neurosciences
Occupational Therapy
Older Adults
Patients
Physical Fitness
Physiology
Program Effectiveness
Psychomotor Skills
Rehabilitation
Research Tools
Robbins, J
Short Term Memory
Swallowing
Systematic review
Tongue
Women
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Summary:Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a 6-week progressive resistance tongue exercise protocol in mental practice form on tongue strength. Investigation begins in typically aging adults, a population susceptible to reduced tongue strength and dysphagia secondary to age-related changes in the swallowing mechanism. It was hypothesized that typically aging adults who perform a 6-week progressive resistance tongue exercise protocol in mental practice form would increase tongue strength. Method: A prospective, case series intervention study was used. Six healthy women aged 53-78 years completed a 6-week mental practice tongue resistance exercise program utilizing motor imagery to imagine completion of tongue exercises. The main outcome was mean isometric maximum tongue pressures (tongue strength), which were collected at baseline and Weeks 2, 4, and 6 using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI Medical, 2013). Results: By Week 6 of the study, all participants had significantly increased their tongue strength compared to baseline. Conclusions: The findings indicate that mental practice using motor imagery for tongue exercise may improve tongue strength in healthy individuals at risk for dysphagia and may thus represent a promising direction warranting further investigation in typically aging individuals and patients with dysphagia and decreased tongue strength.
ISSN:1092-4388
1558-9102
DOI:10.1044/2019_JSLHR-S-18-0128