Tongue coupling as a therapeutic strategy: electromyographic analysis of different training approaches

Abstract

Purpose: to compare the effect of two tongue coupling approaches on the electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature in young women. Methods: the sample comprised 47 women aged 18 to 27 years, distributed into groups, according to exercise training time - 10 and 15 seconds. They answered an initial questionnaire and were submitted to speech-language-hearing clinical assessment, body mass index calculation, and electromyographic assessment. Two electrodes were positioned bilaterally on the skin in the region of the suprahyoid musculature to pick up the electromyographic signal. The women performed the tests with resting periods and maximum voluntary contraction, coupling the tongue with the hard palate as strongly as possible, followed by three training series coupling the tongue with the palate. The collected data regarding amplitude and frequency of the myoelectrical activity were analyzed, by comparing the performance within the two groups and one another with the Friedman and One-Way ANOVA tests, and Mann-Whitney U test, at the 5% significance level. Results: no statistical significance was observed between the groups when comparing their performance in the series, neither was there any decrease in the median frequency in each group while performing the three series. Conclusion: no effect on the electrical activity of the suprahyoid musculature was found in young women when they performed isometric tongue coupling exercise training.