The Impact of a Tongue Training Device on Tongue Muscle Strength in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Modified Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: Sufficient evidence supports the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) as a reliable tool for measuring tongue strength and endurance as well as an effective assessment instrument for intervention studies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a tongue training device, the HEAL, on tongue muscle strength in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), utilizing the IOPI for evaluation. Materials and Methods: We introduced a tongue strengthener, the HEAL, made from medical-grade silicone, designed to improve tongue strength. Each patient was provided with the HEAL and instructed to begin using it one month after undergoing modified UPPP for OSA. The tongue strength of OSA patients was measured using the IOPI both before using the HEAL and approximately 6 weeks later. Results: A total of 66 participants with OSA underwent modified UPPP and were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 39.15 +/- 8.84 years, and the mean BMI was 27.41 +/- 4.03 kg/m2. The duration between the pre- and post-assessment of tongue strength using the HEAL was 42.95 +/- 17.97 days. The mean tongue strength pressure before and after using the HEAL was 32.16 +/- 16.00 kilopascals (kPa) and 42.95 +/- 17.97 kPa, respectively. Tongue strength increased by an average of approximately 52.8% after using the HEAL for an approximate duration of 6 weeks. Conclusions: In the current study, participants with OSA who had undergone modified UPPP and subsequently used the HEAL demonstrated an average improvement of 10.79 kPa in tongue strength-an increase of over 50%-as measured by the IOPI. The interval between the pre- and post-assessment of tongue strength was approximately six weeks. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.