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RecruitingNCT07798401Updated Sep 1, 2026

Digital Intelligent Tongue-Pressure Biofeedback Resistance Training for Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A Phase 2 interventional study of Digital Intelligent Tongue-Pressure Biofeedback Resistance Training and Conventional Tongue-Pressure Resistance Training in Dysphagia and Stroke, sponsored by First People's Hospital of Foshan. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.

Sponsored by First People's Hospital of Foshan · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
80
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Post-stroke dysphagia is a common complication of stroke and may lead to impaired oral intake, malnutrition, aspiration, and pneumonia. Reduced tongue strength and tongue pressure are important contributors to impaired swallowing after stroke. Conventional tongue-pressure resistance training may improve tongue strength, but traditional training provides limited real-time feedback and may be difficult to individualize.This prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness of digital intelligent tongue-pressure biofeedback resistance training in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. A total of 80 participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive digital intelligent tongue-pressure biofeedback resistance training in addition to conventional swallowing rehabilitation, while participants in the control group will receive conventional rehabilitation without the digital biofeedback intervention. The intervention period will last 2 weeks.Swallowing function will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the intervention. The primary outcome is the change in Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) score. Secondary assessments include maximum tongue pressure and quantitative videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) measures, including oral transit time, Penetration-Aspiration Scale score, and pharyngeal residue. The study aims to determine whether digital intelligent tongue-pressure biofeedback resistance training provides additional benefits for swallowing function, tongue strength, and swallowing safety in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.

02

Conditions studied

  • Dysphagia
  • Stroke
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

clusion Criteria:

  1. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, progressive stroke, reversible ischemic neurological deficit, or neurodegenerative disease.
  2. Unable to complete tongue-pressure measurement or tongue-pressure resistance training, including participants with severe psychiatric disorders, severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score \<18), oral structural abnormalities, or severe oral disease.
  3. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to materials used in the study device.
  4. Pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy during the study period.
  5. Participation in another medical device or drug clinical trial within the previous 1 month or current participation in another such trial.
  6. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may result in poor compliance or make the participant unsuitable for the study.
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Digital Intelligent Tongue-Pressure Biofeedback Resistance Training

    Participants will receive digital intelligent tongue-pressure biofeedback resistance training in addition to conventional swallowing rehabilitation. The training includes anterior and posterior tongue isometric strengthening and precision biofeedback training. Strength training is initially set at 80% of the participant's maximum tongue pressure, and endurance training is initially set at 50% of the maximum tongue pressure.

    Device: Digital Intelligent Tongue-Pressure Biofeedback Resistance Training

  • Active comparator
    Conventional Tongue-Pressure Resistance Training

    Participants will receive conventional tongue-pressure resistance training without digital intelligent pressure monitoring or real-time biofeedback.

    Device: Conventional Tongue-Pressure Resistance Training

Interventions

  • DeviceDigital Intelligent Tongue-Pressure Biofeedback Resistance Training

    Digital intelligent tongue-pressure biofeedback resistance training is delivered using a tongue-pressure resistance training device equipped with real-time pressure sensing and visual biofeedback. Tongue pressure is measured at the anterior, middle, posterior, left, and right regions using a five-point pressure sensor. Training includes anterior tongue isometric strengthening, posterior tongue isometric strengthening, and precision biofeedback training. For strength training, the initial target is set at 80% of the participant's maximum tongue pressure, with 20 repetitions per site for 3 sets. For endurance training, the initial target is set at 50% of the maximum tongue pressure.

  • DeviceConventional Tongue-Pressure Resistance Training

    Conventional tongue-pressure resistance training is performed without digital pressure monitoring or real-time visual biofeedback. Participants perform conventional tongue-strengthening exercises by repeatedly pressing the tongue against the hard palate to strengthen the tongue musculature.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) Score

    The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) is a 7-point ordinal scale used to assess the functional level of oral food and liquid intake. Scores range from 1 (nothing by mouth) to 7 (total oral diet with no restrictions). Higher scores indicate better functional oral intake.

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tongue Pressure

    Tongue pressure will be measured using the tongue-pressure resistance training device. Participants will perform three tongue-pressure measurement trials, and tongue pressure will be assessed at the anterior, middle, posterior, left, and right regions of the tongue.

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • First People's Hospital of Foshan
    Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Wang T, Tai J, Hu R, Fan S, Li H, Zhu Y, Wu Y, Wu J. Effect of Tongue-Pressure Resistance Training in Poststroke Dysphagia Patients With Oral Motor Dysfunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Dec 1;101(12):1134-1138. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001998. Epub 2022 Mar 22. PubMed 35320813 ↗
  • Aoyagi Y, Ohashi M, Ando S, Inamoto Y, Aihara K, Matsuura Y, Imaeda S, Saitoh E. Effect of Tongue-Hold Swallow on Pharyngeal Contractile Properties in Healthy Individuals. Dysphagia. 2021 Oct;36(5):936-943. doi: 10.1007/s00455-020-10217-9. Epub 2021 Jan 1. PubMed 33386483 ↗
  • Kunieda K, Fujishima I, Wakabayashi H, Ohno T, Shigematsu T, Itoda M, Oshima F, Mori T, Ogawa N, Ogawa S. Relationship Between Tongue Pressure and Pharyngeal Function Assessed Using High-Resolution Manometry in Older Dysphagia Patients with Sarcopenia: A Pilot Study. Dysphagia. 2021 Feb;36(1):33-40. doi: 10.1007/s00455-020-10095-1. Epub 2020 Mar 5. PubMed 32140906 ↗
  • Song W, Wu M, Wang H, Pang R, Zhu L. Prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of dysphagia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurol. 2024 Jul 17;15:1403610. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1403610. eCollection 2024. PubMed 39087010 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07798401
Lead sponsor
First People's Hospital of Foshan
Responsible party
Zhiming Tang (Associate Chief Physician, First People's Hospital of Foshan) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 1, 2026
Start date
Jun 5, 2026
Primary completion
Dec 30, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 30, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 1, 2026

Study contacts

Zhiming Tang
Contact
104237506@qq.com
+86-0757-83161805

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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