A study of lingual exercise using Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10240
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: The Nippon Dental University
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Noriaki 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 講師 (20409246)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 戸原 雄 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 講師 (40468773)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 頸部刺激 / 舌訓練 / 高齢者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we conducted an intervention study using two different training methods that changed the pulse duration of submental stimulation to examine effective tongue training methods for people with dysphagia.
Nine elderly people who complained of dysphagia were divided into two training methods using different stimulation methods and examined. The training consisted of tongue elevation training with sustained submental stimulation. The study results were the maximum tongue pressure and average tongue pressure before and after training. After training, improvements in maximum tongue pressure and average tongue pressure were observed in both groups. However, in terms of therapeutic effect, no significant differences were observed between the training methods for either maximum or average tongue pressure. Further examination with an increased number of study subjects is required.

Free Research Field

摂食嚥下リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の対象は、摂食嚥下障害を伴う高齢患者として、ショートとロングの2つの異なる刺激を用いた舌訓練を指示し、より強い刺激を加えられる訓練方法とその効果について検討を行った。
頸部への刺激の強度は、ショートの方が有意に増加し、より効果的な刺激を与える可能性が示された。一方で、２つの異なる刺激を用いた訓練方法の違いによる訓練後の効果についての有意な差は認められなかった。したがって、様々な刺激の方法を変更した方法を用いた舌訓練について比較検討する必要性が課題として考えられた。