Differences in Tongue Strength Across Age and Gender: Is There a Diminished Strength Reserve?

Abstract

Maximum tongue strength was investigated and compared to mean swallowing pressure elicited by the anterior tongue to calculate the percentage of maximum tongue strength used during swallowing in 96 participants with normal swallowing, divided into three 20-year age groups. The purposes of this investigation were to investigate normal swallowing physiology and to determine whether tongue strength reserves diminished according to age or gender. The results of the study yielded significant maximum tongue strength differences between the youngest and oldest and middle and oldest age groups; the oldest group had the weakest tongues. Mean swallowing pressure did not differ based on age, but women were found to have significantly higher pressures than men. The percentage of maximum tongue strength used during swallowing did not vary as a function of age, but women used a significantly higher percentage of tongue strength to swallow than men. Based on the results, it appears that a diminishing strength reserve does not exist based on age, but it does exist based on gender. Specifically, it appears that women have a reduced tongue strength reserve compared to men. Clinical implications are discussed.

Caracterização da pressão da língua em idosos

“…The mean maximum isometric pressure peak that was found in this study was lower compared with the results reported in other studies with subjects within the age range compatible for analysis [60-79 years old: 54.5 KPa (±11.1) (14) and 68.81 KPa (±5.4) (17) ]. In a study (18) with 171 participants, the mean pressure peak that was found in the 60-89-year-old group (n = 43) was 51 KPa (±15), which is a value that was slightly above that of this study (44.6 KPa).…”

Influência de altura, peso e índice de massa corporal na força axial da língua

“…Some studies found greater force in men (2,6,13,(15)(16)(17) . However, in other studies such difference was not observed (12,14,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22) . The influence of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) on tongue strength has been little studied.…”

“…However, the strength reduction only occurs after age 60 (12)(13)(14) justifying the non stratification of the sample by age.…”

“…In the literature, some studies have found a relationship between increasing of age and decreasing of tongue force (2,(14)(15)(16)18) . However, the strength reduction only occurs after age 60 (12)(13)(14) justifying the non stratification of the sample by age.…”

“…Tongue force is related, in most studies, to the age and gender of individuals. Studies have found that the tongue force decreases with the increase in age from 60 years on (12)(13)(14).…”