IQoro Review: Does It Actually Work for Acid Reflux and LPR?

IQoro is a neuromuscular training device that has generated a lot of interest in the reflux community — and for good reason. Unlike medications that manage symptoms by reducing acid, IQoro works on a completely different principle: strengthening the muscles of the swallowing chain so the root cause of reflux — a weakened lower oesophageal sphincter and hiatal incompetence — is actually addressed rather than just managed.

I bought it and tested it myself for eight months. In this review I’ll give you my honest experience, walk through what the clinical evidence actually shows, and tell you clearly who I think it’s worth trying for and who I think would be better off focusing their energy elsewhere first.

Key Takeaways:

• IQoro strengthens the muscles of the mouth, throat, oesophagus and diaphragm through a simple daily pulling exercise — 90 seconds total, three times per day
• The evidence is strongest for people with a confirmed hiatal hernia — multiple studies show significant improvement in reflux and swallowing symptoms
• An important study of 43 patients found 86% improvement in reflux symptoms — and crucially, no significant difference in outcomes between patients with and without a hernia
• Results take time — most studies ran for 6 to 8 months before significant improvement was measured
• For LPR without a confirmed hernia the evidence is less direct, but the overlapping symptoms and the non-hernia study finding make it worth considering
• Costs around £149 / $205 USD — available on iqoro.com

---

What Is IQoro and How Does It Work?

IQoro is a small mouthguard-like device made by Swedish company MYoroface. The principle behind it is neuromuscular training — using the mouth and lip muscles as the entry point to stimulate and strengthen a connected chain of muscles running from the face all the way down through the throat, oesophagus and to the diaphragm.

The exercise itself is genuinely simple. You insert the device in front of your teeth, close your lips around it, and pull outward — holding for 5 to 10 seconds without biting down, then resting for 3 seconds, and repeating three times. You do this three times per day, ideally before meals. Total exercise time is around 90 seconds a day.

The reason this matters for reflux is straightforward. One of the main mechanical causes of acid reflux and LPR is a weakened lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) — the valve above the stomach that’s supposed to prevent acid and pepsin from escaping upward. In many people, particularly those with a hiatal hernia, the diaphragm muscles that support this valve become weakened which allows reflux to occur far more easily. IQoro training strengthens these muscles from the outside in — the pulling action activates the entire swallowing chain including the longitudinal muscles of the oesophagus and the diaphragmatic muscles around the hiatal canal. Over months of consistent training these muscles strengthen, reducing reflux mechanically rather than pharmacologically.

You can read more about how the LES works and its role in LPR in my article on the stomach sphincter’s role in LPR.

---

What the Clinical Evidence Shows

The evidence base for IQoro comes primarily from studies on patients with hiatal hernia — which is important context to understand upfront.

The most relevant study for the LPR and reflux audience is this prospective cohort study (Hägg et al., 2015) — the one that convinced me to try IQoro myself. 43 patients with longstanding oesophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms were split into two groups: 21 had a confirmed hiatal hernia and 22 did not. All had been on PPIs for more than a year without any improvement. After 6 months of IQoro training:

• 98% of all patients showed improvement in swallowing symptoms
• 86% of patients with reflux symptoms showed meaningful improvement
• No significant difference in outcomes was found between the hernia group and the non-hernia group

That last point is the one that stands out. The fact that patients without a confirmed hernia improved just as much as those with one suggests the neuromuscular strengthening benefits reflux more broadly — not just by addressing hernia mechanics. This is what makes IQoro interesting for people with LPR even without a diagnosed hernia.

A second study (Hägg et al., 2014) of 28 hiatal hernia patients found significant improvement after IQoro training in symptoms that overlap heavily with LPR — hoarseness (improved in 79%), chronic cough (improved in 86%) and globus sensation (the lump in throat feeling). These aren’t typical GERD symptoms. They’re classic LPR symptoms. The fact that a device targeting swallowing muscle function improved them is worth paying attention to.

A NICE Medtech Innovation Briefing recognised IQoro as a treatment option for hiatal hernia patients. And anecdotal data from IQoro’s own customer surveys across over 18,000 users over five years suggests around 70 to 80% of users report a positive outcome — which is a meaningful signal at that scale even accounting for the obvious limitations of self-reported data.

---

My Personal Experience Using IQoro

I used IQoro for eight months — the full recommended timeframe. I don’t have a confirmed hiatal hernia so I was testing it in the LPR without hernia category.

A few things I noticed early. The first few days of doing the exercises my throat and mouth muscles were surprisingly sore. These aren’t muscles most people exercise regularly. My recommendation is to start with a shorter hold — 2 to 3 seconds rather than the full 5 to 10 — for the first week to let things adapt. I went straight in at the full time and had a few days of muscle discomfort that wasn’t serious but was annoying. Starting lighter avoids that.

After that initial period the exercises became completely automatic — 90 seconds before meals, no thought required. The device is comfortable and genuinely easy to use day to day. No complaints there.

On symptoms — I noticed some modest improvement in globus sensation and a slight reduction in throat clearing frequency over the 8-month period. I didn’t see dramatic improvement overall, but I want to be straight about the context: by the time I tried IQoro I had already resolved most of my LPR through the low acid diet and Gaviscon Advance. My baseline was already significantly improved so there was less room for IQoro to show marked additional benefit. That matters when assessing my experience.

My view is that IQoro is most likely to show meaningful results when tried alongside the dietary approach — ideally from earlier in the treatment process rather than after symptoms are already well controlled. For someone still dealing with significant LPR symptoms, combining the diet, Gaviscon Advance and IQoro together seems like a stronger approach than any of them individually.

---

Should You Try IQoro? — Who It’s For and Who Should Wait

If you have a confirmed hiatal hernia

If you have a diagnosed hernia and reflux symptoms, IQoro has the strongest evidence for you. Multiple studies show significant improvement specifically in hernia patients and the mechanism makes clear physiological sense. Anyone with a hernia who is looking for a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical approach should take IQoro seriously. The evidence is there.

If you have LPR with overlapping symptoms

If you have LPR symptoms — particularly globus sensation (lump in throat), difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, excessive mucus and chronic cough — the overlap with what IQoro has been shown to improve is compelling. The finding that non-hernia patients improved as much as hernia patients in the key study is the data point that makes IQoro worth considering even without a confirmed hernia diagnosis.

Sort the diet and Gaviscon first

This is my honest advice — before spending £149 on IQoro, get the fundamentals in place. The low acid diet and Gaviscon Advance (UK version) are the most evidence-backed first-line treatments for LPR and they should come first. IQoro works best as an addition to that foundation — not a replacement for it.

You need to commit to 6 to 8 months

IQoro does not produce quick results. All the studies ran for 6 to 8 months. You will almost certainly not notice meaningful improvement in the first few weeks. This is a long-term neuromuscular conditioning programme. If you try it for a month and stop because nothing’s changed, you haven’t given it a real trial. Go in with realistic expectations and commit to the full timeframe.

---

IQoro Price and Where to Buy

IQoro is priced at £149 in the UK (roughly $205 USD). Honestly it feels overpriced for the physical product — it’s a mouthguard. But the research behind it is real and if it works for you over the long term the price is quickly justified. If you’re in the UK or Europe you can order directly from iqoro.com with straightforward delivery. If you’re in the US, check the IQoro website directly for current availability before looking at third-party options.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Does IQoro work for acid reflux?

Clinical studies show it works for patients with hiatal hernia and reflux — 86% of patients in the key study saw meaningful improvement in reflux symptoms after 6 months. One study found no significant difference in outcomes between hernia and non-hernia patients which is encouraging for broader use. It’s not a quick fix — results require consistent daily use over 6 to 8 months.

Does IQoro work for LPR (silent reflux)?

There’s no study specifically on LPR patients, but the symptom overlap is significant — hoarseness, globus, chronic cough and swallowing difficulty all improved in the clinical studies. The mechanism targets the same root cause relevant to LPR. I used it for 8 months myself and noticed modest improvement in globus and throat clearing alongside my existing treatment. Worth considering as an addition once diet and Gaviscon are in place.

How long does IQoro take to work?

The clinical studies ran for 6 to 8 months. Don’t expect to notice significant improvement in the first few weeks — this is a neuromuscular conditioning programme and results are gradual. Give it the full timeframe before drawing conclusions.

How do you use IQoro?

Insert the device in front of your teeth with lips closed around it. Pull outward firmly without biting — hold 5 to 10 seconds, rest 3 seconds, repeat three times. Do this three times per day before meals. Start with a shorter hold of 2 to 3 seconds for the first week while your muscles adapt — the throat and mouth muscles being worked aren’t ones most people exercise regularly and soreness the first few days is common if you go straight to full time.

Is IQoro worth the money?

If you have a confirmed hiatal hernia — yes, the evidence justifies the price. If you have LPR without a hernia — worth considering as an addition to your treatment once diet and Gaviscon are in place, but I wouldn’t prioritise it over those fundamentals. If you’re looking for a quick fix — it isn’t that, and you’ll likely be disappointed.

Can I use IQoro alongside Gaviscon Advance and the LPR diet?

Yes — and that combination makes sense. Gaviscon Advance and the low acid diet address symptoms directly and stop pepsin reactivation. IQoro works on the underlying muscle function. They address different aspects of the problem and complement each other. Get the diet and Gaviscon foundations solid first, then consider adding IQoro.

---

Conclusion

IQoro is a genuinely interesting non-pharmaceutical approach to reflux — it’s one of the only options I know of that targets the mechanical root cause rather than just managing symptoms. The evidence is real, the exercise is simple, and it’s non-invasive. The limitations are that most of the evidence is in hernia patients, results take months, and at £149 it’s a meaningful investment.

My honest verdict: if you have a hernia, try it. If you have LPR with swallowing and globus symptoms, consider it once you have diet and Gaviscon in place. Don’t use it as your first step — get the fundamentals right first.

For the core LPR treatment approach check my silent reflux treatment guide and my personal account of how I cured my silent reflux. For a structured diet plan check the Wipeout Diet Plan. And for personalised guidance on your situation consider a private consultation.

---

Related articles:

• Silent Reflux Treatment — What Actually Works for LPR
• The Complete Guide to LPR — Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
• Gaviscon Advance for LPR
• LPR Diet — What to Eat, What to Avoid and What to Drink
• The Stomach Sphincter’s Role in LPR
• LPR Surgery — All Options Explained
• How I Cured My Silent Reflux
• Natural Remedies for LPR

---

References

1. Hägg M et al. (2015) “Esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms before and after oral IQoro training.” World Journal of Gastroenterology, 21(24):7558-7562. PubMed
2. Hägg M, Anniko M. (2014) “Effect of IQoro training in hiatal hernia patients with misdirected swallowing and esophageal retention symptoms.” Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 134(6):655-661. PubMed
3. NICE. (2018) “IQoro for treating hiatus hernia: Medtech Innovation Briefing MIB176.” NICE
4. Hägg M, Tibbling L. (2019) “Effect of IQoro training on hiatal hernia patients with obesity.” World Journal of Gastroenterology. PubMed