Assessing Fatiguability of Tongue Muscles in MS

Assessing Fatiguability of Tongue Muscles and the Effect on Tongue Strength and Swallowing Pressures in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients with subjective dysphagia will be tested for tongue strength fatigue using a strictly defined fatigue paradigm. A maximum of 40 sets will be performed, each set consisting of 5 repetitions of 80% of maximum isometric pressure (MIP) at the anterior tongue, followed by a MIP at the anterior tongue. Cut-off criteria are a MIP <50% of the baseline MIP, pronounced subjective discomfort and/or exceeding the allocated test time of 30 minutes.

Eligibility is Mini-Mental State Exam-score (MMSE) > 23, a Eating Assessment Tool-score (EAT-10) > 3, or a Functional Oral Intake Scale-score (FOIS) < 7, or failing the Yale Swallow Protocol.

Inclusion Criteria:

• proven MS
• subjective dysphagia

Exclusion Criteria:

• MMSE < 23
• major head and neck surgery
• history of cancer