Effect of gummy film sheet for tongue training on swallowing-related muscles
Background: The aim of this pilot study was to examine the impact of tongue movement while using film sheets on swallowing-related muscles in healthy adults and explores whether gummy film sheets can serve as a swallowing training aid. Methods: We applied a gummy film sheet to the hard palate and instructed participants to lick the sheet as if it were pressed against it with their tongue, anticipating that it would provide training effects similar to those of tongue-strengthening exercises. Surface electromyography of the suprahyoid muscles and tongue pressure were measured during the use of the film sheet in 50 healthy adults. The sheet was applied in four distinct ways, based on its positioning on the hard palate and the manner in which it was licked. Results: The method in which the film sheet was applied to the anterior portion of the hard palate and licked with maximal effort resulted in the highest muscle activity in the suprahyoid muscles and the greatest tongue pressure. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the gummy film sheet can serve as an effective swallowing exercise to strengthen the muscles involved in swallowing.
