title: Effects of exercise on swallowing and tongue strength in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer treated with primary radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.
abstract: Tongue strength is reduced in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for oral/oropharyngeal cancer. Tongue strengthening protocols have resulted in improved lingual strength and swallowing in healthy individuals, as well as in patients following a neurological event. However, no studies have examined the efficacy of tongue strengthening exercises on tongue strength, swallowing, and quality of life (QOL; Head and Neck Cancer Inventory) in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. A randomized clinical trial examined the effects of a tongue strengthening programme paired with traditional exercises vs. traditional exercises alone. Dependent variables included tongue strength, swallowing, and QOL in a group of patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer treated with primary radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Differences with regard to tongue strength and oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE) were not observed within or between groups. QOL in the eating and speech domains improved following treatment in both groups. However, the experimental group demonstrated greater impairment in QOL in the social disruption domain following treatment, whereas the control group demonstrated a slight improvement in functioning. Tongue strengthening did not yield a statistically significant improvement in either tongue strength or swallowing measures in this patient cohort. Patient compliance and treatment timing may be factors underlying these outcomes.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, USA; Thyroid Head and Neck Cancer Foundation, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, USA. Electronic address: clazarus@chpnet.org.
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Lazarus
authors: Thyroid Head and Neck Cancer Foundation, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Husaini
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Falciglia
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: DeLacure
authors: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Branski
authors: Center for Head and Neck Oncology, New York Head and Neck Institute, North Shore LIJ Cancer Institute, New York, USA.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Kraus
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ho
authors: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ganz
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Smith
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sanfilippo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: chemoradiation; exercise; quality of life; swallowing; tongue strength