Tongue stretching: technique and clinical proposal

Area of Science:

• Manual Therapy
• Neuromuscular Rehabilitation
• Oral Motor Function

Background:

• Tongue dysfunction affects multiple functions including sucking, swallowing, and postural control.
• Prevalence of tongue dysfunctions is estimated at 10-15%, impacting manual therapy caseloads.
• Existing exercises for tongue muscle strength show unclear efficacy in literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a new tongue muscle normalization technique for manual therapists.
• To provide a practical therapeutic tool for addressing tongue-related issues.
• To enhance manual therapy interventions for conditions influenced by tongue mechanics.

Main Methods:

• Literature review conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar (last 10 years).
• Keywords included 'tongue', 'tongue habits', 'neck pain', 'posture', 'atypical swallowing', and 'osteopathic manipulative treatment'.
• Boolean operators AND and OR were used for comprehensive search.

Main Results:

• A straightforward tongue muscle normalization technique is presented.
• The technique can be performed in a sitting position, accommodating patient limitations.
• Immediate patient feedback ensures correct execution by the therapist.

Conclusions:

• The described technique is simple to execute and apply in clinical settings.
• It serves as an immediate therapeutic tool for manual therapists.
• Facilitates treatment of various conditions linked to tongue dysfunction.