The Effects of Tongue Elevation Using a Weighted Plastic Bottle on the Tongue Pressure and Activity of Suprahyoid Muscles

Background A rise in tongue pressure coincides with an increase in the suprahyoid muscle activity. Objectives The aim was to investigate the effects of holding a weighted plastic bottle on tongue pressure and the suprahyoid muscle activity. Methods Eighteen participants (8 men and 10 women; mean age 42 +/- 16 years) participated in this study. All participants had no history of speech, language, hearing or swallowing disorders and no tooth loss, and they did not require dentures. Healthy participants held gauzes connected with a plastic bottle with increasing resistive loads of 0 g, 250 g, 500 g and 750 g, between their palate and tongue. The maximum tongue pressure and average tongue pressure were measured during a 5 s hold. The average tongue pressure was defined as the mean tongue pressure data in each task. The suprahyoid muscle activity was measured using the electromyogram (EMG). The root mean square of the EMG signals measured while lifting different loads and while performing the head lifting exercises was compared. All variables were examined using the Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results The maximum tongue pressure (p < .05) and average tongue pressure values (p < .05) increased gradually in the anterior-median region with increasing resistive loads, and the root mean square amplitudes for 250 g, 500 g and 750 g were not significant compared with head lifting exercises. Conclusion These results indicated that plastic bottle holding could be a potential strength training tool for the tongue and the suprahyoid muscles.