"Where flowers bloom so does hope." – Lady Bird Johnson
As winter finally loosens its grip, spring steps in with color, warmth, and a welcome sense of renewal. The days grow longer, the air a bit softer, and everything around us begins to bloom again. This season is all about fresh starts—and in this issue, we’re sharing inspiration, ideas, and resources to help you embrace the energy and possibilities that spring brings.
In this quarter’s newsletter, you’ll find an inspirational patient story and how you can share yours, more Myths Busted, a selection of thought-provoking articles, and—keeping patients in mind—updates on renting our Trainer devices.
Also don’t forget to visit our TWO websites, https://iopicares.com/ and https://iopimedical.com/. The latter of which offers the latest news and research and gives you the opportunity to earn free CEUs with your choice of three courses. You can also interact with our IOPI staff, and Patient Advocacy tools (have you seen the Dysphagia Cost tool?!). You can also use our Get a Quote page if you need pricing information. It’s quick and easy! Visit us at https://iopimedical.com/
You can also interact with us on Instagram @iopimedical & Facebook at IOPI Medical LLC for the latest news and information.
Share the wealth! If you know someone who could benefit from our quarterly newsletter, send them this link to get signed up, www.iopimedical.com/news/.
We recently had a call from a patient who wanted to thank us and to share their story. It was a wonderful reminder of why we do what we do.
"I'm making incredible progress in the short time I've been using the IOPI product.
As a 25-year throat cancer survivor, I began experiencing more severe swallowing issues over the last 10 years. When I went to therapy in 2019, I was given printed home exercises, but there was no way to measure my current state or track progress. Without measurable goals, I had no motivation or incentive to stay committed.
Since using the IOPI device, everything has changed. I'm making remarkable progress and can now see myself achieving a "normal" level, something I never thought possible. After only two weeks in therapy, I'm extremely motivated and see improvement with every visit."
Do you or your patients have an IOPI success story? Read on to see how you can be part of our #ILoveMyIOPI campaign.
More Myths Busted!
Myth: Using the IOPI for strength training only causes muscle hypertrophy
False, in the first few weeks of strength training, improvements in force are driven largely by changes in the nervous system. The brain becomes better at activating the muscles by recruiting more motor units (groups of muscle fibers controlled by a single nerve) and by increasing the speed at which those motor units fire. These changes allow the nervous system to generate stronger, more coordinated muscle contractions (Enoka & Duchateau, 2017).
The same neural principles apply to swallowing rehabilitation. Exercises designed to strengthen the tongue or other swallowing muscles, such as those performed with the IOPI, may initially improve performance because the nervous system becomes more efficient at activating the muscles involved in swallowing. Early improvements in tongue pressure or swallowing effort may therefore reflect better neural drive and coordination, rather than immediate changes in muscle structure. Over time, repeated practice helps the nervous system refine how it generates and controls force during swallowing tasks, much like learning any other complex motor skill (Aagaard, 2003; Carroll, Riek, & Carson, 2001).
As you have no doubt heard, IOPI Medical entered the sleep market going on three years now. In June we will be attending SLEEP 2026 in Baltimore to not only share our value in the battle against obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but also to demonstrate the value of our Trainer Rental Program for patients suffering with it. The latest research confirms there are benefits of using the IOPI to combat OSA.
The findings show that the IOPI is a practical and valuable tool for measuring tongue pressure and can assist in identifying the "low muscle tone" endotype in OSAS. The study results indicate that IOPI levels below 40kPa were associated with a higher likelihood of tongue base collapse observed during DISE. These results have potential clinical implications for managing the severity of tongue collapse in OSAS patients.
🌟 Share Your Success Story! 🌟 Have you heard about our #ILoveMyIOPIcampaign?
Calling all clinicians, researchers, and patients who have experienced positive outcomes with IOPI Medical products - we'd love to feature your story and help inspire others in our community.
How to participate: 📹 Create a video testimonial (3 minutes max) 💬 Share what you love about your IOPI and your genuine experience and results 📧 Submit your video to us at Info@IOPIMedical.com
What makes a great testimonial: • Authentic personal experience with our product • Specific outcomes or improvements you've seen • Clear audio and video quality • Consent for potential marketing use • Comfortable speaking pace and good lighting
Submission Guidelines: ✅ Content must be original and truthful ✅ Professional language and appropriate setting that highlights the story you are sharing ✅ Participants consent to potential use in marketing materials
Selected testimonials will be featured across our social channels, and will receive one free box of Tongue Bulbs.
Ready to inspire others with your story? We can't wait to hear from you!
The IOPI® Trainer Patient Home Rental Program is in full swing! Haven’t joined us yet? Here’s why you should.
Benefits for your patients…
Affordable home therapy option for patients • Rent vs. purchase—perfect for short-term needs • FREE Training & support available for clinicians new to the IOPI® Trainer • Zero administrative burden on your practice
And for your practice with enhanced patient outcomes:
Continuous therapy between clinic visits • No Administrative Load: We handle payments, shipping, and tech support • Clinical Control: You maintain oversight of therapy protocols • Flexible Rental Terms: 2–6-month rentals with easy returns
A bit of housekeeping
Do you own one of our Series 2 devices? If so, you should know they have reached their end of life and can no longer be supported. As of December 31, 2025, IOPI Medical formally discontinued all servicing and RMA support for Series 2 devices. Replacement parts are no longer available, and repair or calibration services will not be performed. You can, however, still purchase Tongue Bulbs and Connecting Tubes for use with Series 2 devices.
IOPI Medical continues to offer fully supported devices via the Series 3 product line (Model 3.1 and Model 3.2), for which we provide ongoing service support and maintain current regulatory compliance.
Customers currently using Series 2 devices are encouraged to plan for an upgrade to a Series 3 device at their earliest convenience.
Earn ASHA CEUs with Our Three Free Courses
Many of you may already be familiar with our esteemed Clinical Consultant, Ed Bice, but did you know, you can learn from him from the comfort of your office or home?
IOPI Medical offers ASHA Continuing Education Units with our FREE courses. Choose from:
The Role of Oral Musculature in Swallowing and the Therapeutic Benefits of the IOPI, reviewing the oral musculature and its essential functions, as well as explore exercise principles and how the IOPI can be integrated into a dysphagia treatment plan.
Building a Therapy Program from the Ground Up, examining current evidence related to the assessment and treatment of dysphagia and providing practical suggestions for a path forward.
IOPI Research Updates, summarizing recent findings related to the IOPI.
Did you know we have our very own Clinical Consultant on staff? Whether you have a perplexing question or just need a bit of guidance, Ed Bice, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is always happy to help. You can schedule time with Ed by going towww.iopimedical.comand clicking on the “Schedule time with us” button. You can also reach him ated@iopimedical.com.
When Systemic Muscle Loss Affects Swallowing: The Emerging Concept of Sarcopenic Dysphagia
Over the past decade, dysphagia research has increasingly focused on the relationship between systemic muscle loss and swallowing impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that swallowing impairment can arise from generalized skeletal muscle loss, a condition known as sarcopenia.
The concept of sarcopenic dysphagia proposes that declines in muscle mass and strength throughout the body may also affect the muscles involved in swallowing. As systemic sarcopenia progresses, muscles of the tongue, the suprahyoid region, and the pharynx may exhibit reduced efficiency of bolus propulsion and airway protection.
Recent research has also emphasized the value of objective physiologic measurements to quantify sarcopenic changes. Measures of tongue pressure obtained with the IOPI have become increasingly common in studies examining swallowing function in older adults. Reduced tongue pressure has been associated with dysphagia severity, poor nutritional status, and overall frailty.
Collectively, research suggests that dysphagia in older adults may be the result of systemic muscular deterioration rather than an isolated swallowing impairment. The shift in perspective has important implications for treatment. Interventions may need to address not only swallowing exercises but also broader factors such as resistance training, nutrition, and overall physical rehabilitation.
The following four studies represent important contributions to the development of the concept.
Study #1: Decreased tongue pressure reflects symptoms of dysphagia
The investigation examined the relationship between tongue strength and clinical signs of swallowing impairment in 145 institutionalized older adults living in nursing homes. Maximum isometric tongue pressure was measured, while voluntary tongue movement and the presence of cough during meals were evaluated by experienced clinicians. Measures of physical function and cognitive status were also recorded.
Lower tongue pressure was significantly associated with impaired voluntary tongue movement and a higher incidence of cough during meals after accounting for physical and cognitive status. The findings suggest that reduced tongue strength is associated with observable signs of swallowing impairment and that tongue pressure measurements may provide a useful bedside indicator of swallowing function in older adults.
Study #2: Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor of dysphagia in hospitalized older people
The investigation examined the relationship between sarcopenia and dysphagia in 224 older adults (mean age 82.5 years). Individuals with neurological conditions that could directly cause swallowing impairment were excluded from the study. Sarcopenia was highly prevalent in the sample (76.8%), and dysphagia was identified in 30% of participants.
Maeda, K., & Akagi, J. (2016). Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor of dysphagia in hospitalized older people. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 16(4), 515–521. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.12486
After adjusting for potential contributing factors such as age, sex, nutritional status, and functional independence, lower skeletal muscle index, lower Barthel Index scores, and the presence of sarcopenia were all significantly associated with dysphagia. Subgroup analyses revealed that dysphagic participants had lower skeletal muscle index values, with additional reductions in hand-grip strength observed among women. The findings indicate that sarcopenia is independently associated with dysphagia in older adults, although the authors suggest that further research is needed to determine the direction of causality between the two conditions.
Study #3: Effects of tongue-strengthening exercise intensity on tongue strength and thickness in older adults with sarcopenic dysphagia
The investigation examined the effects of tongue-strengthening exercise intensity on tongue strength and thickness in older adults with sarcopenic dysphagia. Participants were randomly assigned to perform tongue-strengthening exercises at either 80% or 50% of one-repetition maximum for 90 repetitions per day, five days per week, over an eight-week period. Tongue strength increased from 16.7 to 22.1 kPa in the 80% intensity group and from 16.9 to 19.1 kPa in the 50% intensity group.
Park, J.-S., Shim, S.-H., & Hwang, N.-K. (2026). Tongue-strengthening exercise in older adults with sarcopenic dysphagia: A randomised controlled trial. Gerodontology, 43(1), 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/ger.70024
Tongue thickness also increased in both groups, with greater gains observed in the higher-intensity condition. Post-intervention comparisons demonstrated greater improvements in both tongue strength and thickness among participants who completed the 80% intensity program. The findings indicate that higher-intensity tongue-strengthening exercise produces greater improvements in tongue strength and thickness in older adults with sarcopenic dysphagia.
Study #4: Swallowing pathophysiology in primary sarcopenia: A multimodal assessment in older adults
The investigation examined early swallowing impairments in older adults with primary sarcopenia using a multimodal instrumental assessment. Forty-four participants underwent fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with scoring using the Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity scale. Additional measures included tongue strength, suprahyoid muscle activity using surface electromyography, peak cough flow, and self-reported swallowing symptoms using the Eating Assessment Tool-10.
Ceylan, B. T., Gölaç, H., Atalık, G., Akyol, E., Gülaçtı, A., & Şansal, E. (2025). Swallowing pathophysiology in primary sarcopenia: A multimodal assessment in older adults. Dysphagia. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-025-10916-1
Based on DIGEST scores, 20.5% of participants demonstrated no dysphagia, 56.8% had mild dysphagia, and 22.7% had moderate dysphagia. Participants with dysphagia exhibited lower tongue strength, reduced suprahyoid muscle activity, longer swallowing durations, and lower peak cough flow than those without dysphagia. The findings suggest that early physiological changes in swallowing may occur in primary sarcopenia while overall swallowing safety remains relatively preserved, potentially reflecting functional reserve within the swallowing mechanism. The results highlight the importance of early identification and monitoring of swallowing function in older adults with sarcopenia.
Don’t Forget to Use Your Resources:
To help you achieve the greatest level of success for your patients, we continue to provide you with the necessary Purchasing Advocacy tools, and clinical support.
Our Purchasing Advocacy tools can be found on our Medical Professionals page. Here you will find our IOPI Dysphagia Cost Tool as well as a ready-to-use Benefits of IOPI for Dysphagia PowerPoint. Just populate it with information specific to your patient’s needs.
You also have clinical support at your fingertips! Our clinical consultant, Ed M. Bice, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is available to mentor through the advocacy process to assess and report the estimated cost of dysphagia to your facility. You can reach Ed for a patient consultation or clinical question by calling (844) 844-IOPI or emailing ed@iopimedical.com.
To access our IOPI Dysphagia Cost Tool, the Benefits of IOPI for Dysphagia PowerPoint, and tips on advocating for your patients, please visit our website.
How can we get better at serving our customers if we don’t know the ways in which we can improve? We have developed a very brief survey that if you can spare just a few minutes, would give us very valuable feedback. To those of you who have already completed the survey, thank you! We greatly appreciate your insight into helping us offer the best service and products possible.
