Tests a tongue endurance exercise program for swallowing after stroke
Tests tongue exercises at home in adults with swallowing trouble after stroke.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: K01 Impacts of Lingual Endurance Exercise
Key facts
- Where
- Cincinnati, United StatesSee the site
Where in United States
- University of CincinnatiCincinnati, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Cincinnati
- Trial code
- NCT06072924
- Record updated
- 4 September 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a tongue endurance exercise program can improve swallowing function in adults with dysphagia after a stroke. It also aims to explore how this exercise may affect brain structure and connectivity involved in swallowing. The main questions it aims to answer are:Read full original descriptionShow less
Impact of Lingual Endurance Exercise on Rehabilitation of Swallowing Impairments After Ischemic Stroke
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a tongue endurance exercise program can improve swallowing function in adults with dysphagia after a stroke. It also aims to explore how this exercise may affect brain structure and connectivity involved in swallowing. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Primary Aim: Does lingual endurance exercise improve swallowing function compared to a sham therapy? Secondary Aim: Does lingual endurance exercise lead to changes in brain structure or neuroplasticity, as measured by MRI?
Researchers will compare a group receiving tongue endurance exercises to a sham therapy group to see whether the treatment improves tongue function, swallowing.
Participants will:
* Complete a baseline swallowing assessment and MRI * Be randomly assigned to either the lingual exercise or sham therapy group * Complete 8 weeks of home-based tongue exercise therapy * Return for follow-up swallowing assessments * A subgroup of participants will complete a pre-treatment and post-treatment MRI.
Inclusion: 1) 3-6 months since most recent diagnosis of ischemic, confirmed from clinical imaging) with or without small hemorrhagic transformation (HI-1); 2) English Speaking.
Exclusion: 2) history of dysphagia prior to or after the stroke caused by any of the following conditions: gastrointestinal disease, traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, surgery involving the pharynx or larynx; 3) history of other neurological disease (i.e. multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's, dementia); 5) History of temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (also known as TMJ); 1) ≤18 years of age.