Schaen-Heacock Nicole E, Rowe Linda M, Ciucci Michelle R, Russell John A
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Head Neck. 2025 Jan;47(1):355-370. doi: 10.1002/hed.27899. Epub 2024 Aug 16.
Common treatments for head and neck cancer (radiation and chemotherapy) can lead to dysphagia; tongue exercise is a common intervention. This study aimed to assess swallow biomechanics and bolus kinematics using a well-established rat model of radiation or chemoradiation treatment to the tongue base, with or without tongue exercise intervention.
Pre- and post-treatment videofluoroscopy was conducted on 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with radiation/chemoradiation and exercise/no exercise. Rats in the exercise groups completed a progressive resistance tongue training paradigm. Swallow biomechanics, bolus kinematics, jaw opening, and post-swallow respiration were assessed.
Both treatments impacted outcome measures; the addition of exercise intervention showed benefit for some measures, particularly in rats treated with radiation, vs. chemoradiation.
Radiation and chemoradiation can significantly affect aspects of deglutition; combined treatment may result in worse outcomes. Tongue exercise intervention can mitigate deficits; more intensive intervention may be warranted in proportion to combined treatment.
头颈部癌症的常见治疗方法（放疗和化疗）可导致吞咽困难；舌部锻炼是一种常见的干预措施。本研究旨在使用一种成熟的大鼠模型，对舌根进行放疗或放化疗，并进行或不进行舌部锻炼干预，以评估吞咽生物力学和食团运动学。
对32只接受放疗/放化疗且有锻炼/无锻炼的雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠进行治疗前和治疗后的视频荧光吞咽功能检查。锻炼组的大鼠完成了渐进性抗阻舌部训练模式。评估吞咽生物力学、食团运动学、张口情况和吞咽后呼吸。
两种治疗均影响结果指标；与放化疗相比，添加锻炼干预对某些指标有好处，尤其是在接受放疗的大鼠中。
放疗和放化疗可显著影响吞咽的各个方面；联合治疗可能导致更差的结果。舌部锻炼干预可减轻缺陷；对于联合治疗，可能需要更强化的干预措施。
