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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue

Published on: July 6, 2017

Exercise using tongue-holding swallow does not improve swallowing function in normal subjects.

J-C Oh¹, J-W Park, T-H Cha

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

Journal of Oral Rehabilitation

|December 24, 2011

Summary

Tongue-holding swallow exercises did not improve swallowing function in healthy individuals. This study found no changes in biomechanical swallowing parameters after a four-week training program.

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Area of Science:

Deglutition science
Swallowing biomechanics
Exercise physiology

Background:

Swallowing difficulties can arise from various conditions.
Exercises are explored to enhance swallowing function.
The tongue-holding swallow (THS) is a novel exercise technique.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effects of repetitive tongue-holding swallow (THS) exercises on swallowing function.
To assess biomechanical changes in swallowing parameters following THS training in healthy subjects.

Main Methods:

Twenty healthy participants were randomized into a THS group or a normal swallow control group.
The THS group performed the maneuver every 5 seconds for 20 minutes daily for 4 weeks.
Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies analyzed hyolaryngeal movement, posterior pharyngeal wall movement, and pharyngeal constriction ratio.

Main Results:

No significant changes in hyolaryngeal movement were observed in either group.
Posterior pharyngeal wall movement and pharyngeal constriction ratio remained unchanged post-training.
The THS exercise intervention did not alter any measured biomechanical swallowing parameters.

Conclusions:

Repetitive tongue-holding swallow exercises do not appear to improve swallowing function in healthy individuals.
THS training did not yield measurable biomechanical benefits for swallowing in this study population.
Further research may be needed to explore THS in populations with dysphagia.