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Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research Vol.52 732-744 June 2009. doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2008/08-0105)
© American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
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Effect of Tongue Exercise on Protrusive Force and Muscle Fiber Area in Aging Rats

Nadine P. Connor
John A. Russell
Hao Wang
Michelle A. Jackson
Laura Mann
Keith Kluender
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Contact author: Nadine P. Connor, University of Wisconsin Clinical Science Center, Room K4/711, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-7375. E-mail: connor{at}surgery.wisc.edu.

Purpose: Age-related changes in tongue function may contribute to dysphagia in elderly people. The authors' purpose was to investigate whether aged rats that have undergone tongue exercise would manifest increased protrusive tongue forces and increased genioglossus (GG) muscle fiber cross-sectional areas.

Method: Forty-eight young adult, middle-aged, and old Fischer 344/Brown Norway rats received 8 weeks of tongue exercise. Protrusive tongue forces were measured before and after exercise. GG muscle fiber cross-sectional area was measured in exercised rats and was compared with cross-sectional areas in a no-exercise control group.

Results: A significant increase in maximum tongue force was found following exercise in all age groups. In addition, a trend for increased GG muscle fiber cross-sectional area and a significant increase in variability of GG muscle fiber cross-sectional area was identified postexercise.

Conclusion: The findings of this study have implications for treatment of elderly persons with dysphagia using tongue exercise programs. Specifically, increases in tongue force that occur following 8 weeks of progressive resistance tongue exercise may be accompanied by alterations in tongue muscle fiber morphology. These changes may provide greater strength and endurance for goal-oriented actions associated with the oropharyngeal swallow and should be investigated in future research.

KEY WORDS: tongue, aging, rat, tongue exercise, genioglossus, swallowing, deglutition


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