Effect of orofacial myofunctional exercise on the improvement of dysphagia patients’ orofacial muscle strength and diadochokinetic rate

[Purpose] Measurement of the diadochokinetic rate can provide useful information on swallowing rehabilitation in the oral phase by elucidating the speed and regularity of movement of muscles related to the lips, tongue, and chin. This study investigated the effect of a three-week period of orofacial myofunctional exercise on the improvement of cheek, tongue, and lip muscle strength and diadochokinetic rate in dysphagia patients. [Subjects and Methods] This study employed a pretest-posttest control group design. Both orofacial myofunctional exercise and the temperature-tactile stimulation technique were applied to the experimental group (n=23), while only the temperature-tactile stimulation technique was applied to the control group (n=25). [Results] Tongue elevation, tongue protrusion, cheek compression, lip compression, and alternating motion rate were more significantly improved in the experimental group than in the control group. [Conclusion] Orofacial myofunctional exercise is effective in the rehabilitation of swallowing function in the oral phase in dysphagia patients by improving orofacial muscle strength and response rate.