Impact of Lingual Endurance Exercise on Rehabilitation of Swallowing Impairments After Ischemic Stroke
University of Cincinnati
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a tongue endurance exercise program can improve swallowing function in adults with dysphagia after a stroke. It also aims to explore how this exercise may affect brain structure and connectivity involved in swallowing. The main questions it aims to answer are: Primary Aim: Does lingual endurance exercise improve swallowing function compared to a sham therapy? Secondary Aim: Does lingual endurance exercise lead to changes in brain structure or neuroplasticity, as measured by MRI? Researchers will compare a group receiving tongue endurance exercises to a sham therapy group to see whether the treatment improves tongue function, swallowing. Participants will: * Complete a baseline swallowing assessment and MRI * Be randomly assigned to either the lingual exercise or sham therapy group * Complete 8 weeks of home-based tongue exercise therapy * Return for follow-up swallowing assessments * A subgroup of participants will complete a pre-treatment and post-treatment MRI.
Description
This randomized, controlled clinical trial investigates the efficacy of a 8-week lingual endurance exercise program in adults with dysphagia following stroke. The study uses a two-arm, parallel-group design with participants randomized to either a lingual endurance exercise group or a sham therapy control group. Both interventions are delivered using a lingual manometer, which participants use at home under monitored conditions. The primary aim is to evaluate changes in oral-phase swallowing physiology using the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) Oral Total Score, as assessed…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * 1\) 3-6 months since most recent diagnosis of ischemic, confirmed from clinical imaging) with or without small hemorrhagic transformation (HI-1) * 2\) Have some indication of on-going swallowing issues * 3\) English Speaking Exclusion Criteria: * 1\) ≤18 years of age * 2\) history of dysphagia prior to or after the stroke caused by any of the following conditions: gastrointestinal disease, traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, surgery involving the pharynx or larynx * 3\) history of other neurological disease (i.e. multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's, dementia…
Interventions
- BehavioralIsotonic Endurance Exercise
Pressing tongue against a pressure sensor at the set number of repetitions per session (individualized per participant) 3 times per day
- BehavioralSham Exercise
Pressing tongue against pressure sensor at a low threshold (1-15kPa) 30x/day
Location
- University of CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohio