title: A Pilot Study of the Tongue Pull-Back Exercise for Improving Tongue-Base Retraction and Two Novel Methods to Add Resistance to the Tongue Pull-Back.
abstract: This pilot study investigated the tongue pull-back (TPB) exercise to improve tongue-base retraction as well as two methods to add resistance to the TPB. Surface electromyography (sEMG) to the submental triangle was used as an indication of tongue-base activity on 13 healthy adults during: (1) saliva swallow, (2) 15 mL water swallow, (3) effortful swallow, (4) unassisted TPB, (5) TPB with added resistance by holding the tongue with gauze (finger-resisted TPB), and (6) TPB with the tongue clipped to a spring-loaded tension resistance device (device-resisted TPB). Order of the exercises was randomized. The exercises fell into two groups-weak and intense. Weak exercises included saliva swallow, water swallow, and unassisted TPB (mean sEMG = 19.07 μV, p = .593). Intense exercises included effortful swallow, finger-resisted TPB, and device-resisted TPB (mean sEMG = 36.44 μV, p = .315). Each intense exercise resulted in significantly higher mean sEMG peak amplitude than each weak exercise (p < .05), with one exception; the effortful swallow was not significantly different than the unassisted TPB (p = .171). This study provides preliminary evidence that the unassisted TPB may not be any more helpful for improving tongue-base retraction than normal swallowing. Adding resistance to the TPB by holding the tongue with gauze may be an effective alternative. This study also demonstrates proof-of-concept for creating a device to attach to the tongue and provide tension resistance during the TPB exercise. Further research with a more sophisticated design is needed before such a device can be fully developed and implemented clinically.
authors: Communicative Sciences and Disorders, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812-9968, USA. laurie.slovarp@umontana.edu.
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Slovarp
authors: Communicative Sciences and Disorders, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812-9968, USA.
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: King
authors: Communicative Sciences and Disorders, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812-9968, USA.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Off
authors: Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, P.O. Box 870102, Tempe, AZ, 85287-0102, USA.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Liss
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D004326:Drinking; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012463:Saliva; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deglutition; Deglutition disorders; Dysphagia; Effortful swallow; Electromyography; Strength training; Tongue pull-back; Tongue-base retraction