Facilitating Tongue Length and Mobility Using a Novel Loop Device for Dysphagia in Stroke Survivors: Efficacy in a Quasi-Randomized Study

Background: Dysphagia in stroke patients is primarily attributed to motor weakness and decreased voluntary motor control, leading to delayed swallowing reflexes and pharyngeal contractions. There are limited technical aids available for the rehabilitation of the tongue. This study presents an option in the form of a loop device. Objective: To investigate the use of a loop device for dysphagia in stroke survivors using a quasi-randomized study. Methods: This quasi-randomized study was conducted at a hospital on post-stroke dysphagia for 1 year. The sample was divided into either Group A (n = 6) or Group B (n = 6). Group A received tongue stretching and strengthening using the loop device. Group B received tongue stretching (manually) and strengthening intervention (tongue depressor) without using a loop device. Eating Assessment Tool (EAT10), M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), and tongue length change measure or tongue protrusion change (TLCM) were used to check the outcome using the significant difference of means at a p-value of 0.05, considering a normal distribution and SD. Paired and independent t-tests were used for analysis. Results: Group A: the mean TLCM score increased from 1.56 (SD = 0.91) to 2.0 (SD = 0.82) from the pretest to the posttest (p = 0.007). The mean EAT10 score decreased from 24 (SD = 5.21) to 19.33 (SD = 6.80), (p = 0.011). In addition, the mean MDADI score increased from 53.80 (SD = 7.71) to 62.97 (SD = 12.37), (p = 0.021). The p-value was found to be significant at < 0.05. Group B: In Group B, the mean TLCM score increased from 2.23 (SD = 0.34) to 2.50 (SD = 0.41), (p = 0.014). However, the mean EAT10 score decreased notably from 19.16 (SD = 2.48) to 13.5 (SD = 3.27), (p = 0.001). Similarly, the mean MDADI score increased from 51.7383 (SD = 6.16) to 58.3967 (SD = 6.16), (p = 0.001). The p-value was found to be significant at < 0.05. In intergroup comparison, no significant difference is seen. Conclusions: Improvements have been observed in dysphagia using TLCM, EAT-10 scores, and MDADI after the interventions. No significant improvement of the novel device use over the traditional methods is seen in the studied measures, and both are comparable to each other. The loop device provided the intervention in an effective, hygienic, and clinically appropriate manner. The manual stretching of the tongue was not preferred by patients.