Transcutaneous electrical stimulation as a resistance force in lingual exercise: A preliminary proof-of-concept...

Area of Science:

• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
• Swallowing biomechanics
• Speech pathology

Background:

• Limited research exists on transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) effectiveness for improving lingual pressure.
• Understanding TES parameters, like pulse duration (PD), is crucial for optimizing lingual muscle function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of submental TES with short (300 μs) versus long (700 μs) PD, combined with isometric lingual exercises, on lingual pressure generation.
• To evaluate the impact of different PDs on maximum and swallowing lingual pressures.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight healthy volunteers participated in a 2-week program with six sessions of submental TES and isometric lingual exercises.
• Participants were divided into short PD (300 μs) and long PD (700 μs) groups.
• Lingual pressures were measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) before, during, and after the intervention period.

Main Results:

• Short PD demonstrated a greater increase in maximum lingual pressure after one week compared to long PD.
• Both short and long PD groups showed significant increases in maximum lingual pressure after two weeks, with no significant difference between groups.
• No significant changes were observed in swallowing lingual pressure for either group or compared to baseline.

Conclusions:

• While short PD initially enhanced maximum lingual pressure more, this effect diminished after two weeks, resulting in comparable gains for both PDs.
• Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) with isometric lingual exercises can increase maximum lingual pressure, but this benefit does not extend to swallowing pressures.
• Further research is needed to optimize TES parameters for functional lingual tasks.