How effective are tongue ties in preventing soft palate displacement?

Question

How effective are tongue ties in preventing soft palate displacement? I am wary of the methods used in many studies determining the effects of tongue ties for preventing DDSP and in fact a recently published study also questioned the methods used in detemining their effectiveness. Many studies say the effectivness is minimal and yet we see over 90% of racing TB's and harness horses using tongue ties. In school we learned that just because something is not scientifically proven does not mean it's not clinically significant. Would anyone like to comment? I would also like to see differing views.

Answer 1

They really don't help much at all. Horses that displace will displace unless they have a myectomy or a tie-back, and sometimes this doesn't help either. Tongue ties are generally used inorder to prevent the horse from flipping his tongue over the bit (since most race bridles are looser than you would typically expect)

Answer 2

Veterinary studies have shown tongue ties are not effective. There is a new product on the market called Winning Tongue Plate Bit that just recently won an Australian international design award. Their are many compelling reports from leading trainers, riders, harness drivers and vets that this new bit design prevents displacement of the soft palate because it sits flat and central over the tongue preventing the horse rolling its tongue back and also stops the horse getting their tongue over the bit. They are also successfully using it on horses that have previously had throat operations and were still flipping their palate. You can view it at www.iiwinners.com the reports and testimonials are very compelling.

Answer 3

You have a lot of good answers here, but like i believe GALLOP said the jury is still out on different indications. The other answer i think is excellent is by SARAH WARRSER, basically there is no concrete proof on soft palate correction. Basically keeps the horse from slipping tongue over bit. Some horses have a bad habit of playing with their tongue in racing mode like we humans sometimes bite our nails etc. Horses in competition will and as exhaustion sets in, at times will fold their tongue backwards thus the saying swallowed their tongue. Tongue ties prevent this i have used ties for so many years i can't remember when it began to widely used like this procedure now.

Answer 4

My background is in human medicine, and I have participated in FDA protocols, clinical trials, and data evaluation and peer reviewing, as well as having over 40 years in clinical practice in pediatric, orthopedic, medical, and surgical specialties, with additional clinical experience in mental health, nutritional and diet counseling, and physical assessment for health insurance companies, and over 30 years as a college/uni professor of medical sciences.

In my opinion, the studies on this are insufficient to draw conclusions that justifly the use of tongue ties. No one study weighs heavily, especially when only a few horses participated. There is valid research and not-so-valid research, but before condoning any practice that has not undergone the kind of rigorous evaluation required to earn approval under FDA protocol and having been determined to be both safe and efficacious, I don't typically support it.

When an effect from a drug or device is determined to be "clinically significant" the effects may be either harmful or helpful. Anything that impacts status quo for the worse or for the better can be considered to be clinically significant.

The FDA approves some drugs or medical devices without scientific evidence that clearly demonstrates why and how they work, but they are first studied under strict scientific protocol to determine that they meet minimal safety standards and that their efficacy is sufficient to warrant approval.

As far as answering the question as to how effective tongue ties are in preventing soft palate displacement, for me the jury is still out until long term, scientifically conducted, controlled, monitored, and validated research protocol is followed on a random and sufficient population to provide conclusive evidence.

Answer 5

Tongue-ties are frequently used in an attempt to prevent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a tongue-tie in horses clinically affected with the disorder. Video endoscopic recordings and measurements of respiratory airflow were made simultaneously during high intensity treadmill exercise in 6 Thoroughbred racehorses with confirmed DDSP, with and without a tongue-tie. DDSP was confirmed in all 6 horses without the tongue-tie but occurred in only 4 horses with the tongue-tie in place. In one horse the palate displaced only on slowing down after intense exercise and in the other horse DDSP did not occur although palatal instability remained. The presence of the tongue-tie did not result in any significant alteration in run-time to fatigue or in any of the respiratory variables measured. The results suggest that the use of a tongue-tie may prevent DDSP in individual horses although it is not effective in the majority, consistent with the widely accepted anecdotal reports of success rates for its use. Where DDSP was not prevented, application of a tongue-tie did not improve ventilation.

Tongue ties (strips of material passed through the horse's mouth over the tongue and tied under the jaw) are sometimes used on racehorses for one of two primary reasons. As a way to keep a horse from putting its tongue over the bit and thus avoiding control by the rider, the tongue tie is usually at least somewhat effective in most cases. When tongue ties are used in an attempt to prevent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), anecdotal reports as well as some clinical research have indicated this procedure is effective on some horses and ineffective on others.

I am not a fan personally

Answer 6

First maybe smack ya gently on the back of the top, examine for a pulse or you turning blue, maybe do the Heimlich, then pat you gently and say that's ok to chat with yer mouth finished, yer with a buddy. Oh wait merely a minute. this may be distinctive. Yer no longer gonna ultimate me in any cherry stem tongue tyin contest,,,NO way... LOL. Dallas

Answer 7

can you say that in english please? I hardly understood a word you just said.