Effects of Tongue-Strengthening Self-Exercises in Healthy Older Adults: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.

The trial was not randomized, and the exercise and control groups were recruited at different times, so timing or group selection could affect the result. Only 16 participants in the exercise group and 11 in the control group had complete data, so the study may be too small to detect a real between-group difference. Both groups received day services, including physical exercises, cognitive training, and nutritional management, so the tongue exercises alone cannot be isolated as the cause of any change. No detailed swallowing assessment was performed, so the study cannot show that tongue-strengthening self-exercises improve swallowing. Participants were healthy older adults without swallowing complaints, so the findings may not apply to people with dysphagia or neurologic disease. Adherence was self-reported and very high, possibly because day-service users were more health conscious. Training and measurement were done only on the anterior tongue, not the posterior tongue. The study ended after 8 weeks, so it does not show whether the effects last.

The supplied metadata lists Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't. No author conflicts of interest are stated in the text.

Do not read the within-group increases in tongue pressure and endurance as proof that this home tool improves swallowing or outperforms usual day services. The study did not assess swallowing function, and the exercise and control groups did not differ clearly in change.