Tongue Strength and Endurance on Healthy Adults：Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Main Authors: LU, ANG-WEI, 呂昂衛
• Other Authors: LAN, SHOU-JEN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/cubfdu

碩士 === 亞洲大學 === 健康產業管理學系長期照護組碩士在職專班 === 105 === Background The aging population in Taiwan grows much faster than other developed countries, and the degree of population aging continues to increase. Under the stress of population aging, it is important to build an active aging environment for the elderly, which provides an optimal opportunity to promote health, participation and safety to ensure quality of life. "Eating" is a biological instinct, but the elderly's ability to swallow is susceptible to many factors. They gradually lose the ability to swallow and the fun of eating. They have to change the texture of food or depend on an N-G tube or PEG to take essential nutrients. These changes have also led to many issues of concern in the society. Oral motor exercises play a key role in dysphagia intervention. The tongue has an important function in the swallowing process; therefore, tongue movement is one of the suggested exercises. So far, many studies have investigated the effect of age and gender have on tongue movement, and the changes in swallowing after tongue exercises. However, most of the studies were limited to a small sample size, covering a vast difference in age, etc. This current study presents a more objective and empirical discussion on this subject through systematic review and meta-analysis. Objective To explore the effect of age, gender, tongue area, and region differences on the muscle strength and endurance of the tongue in healthy adults. Methods Eleven English electronic databases, two Chinese electronic databases and Google Scholar academic search literature were systematically searched for articles up to April 30, 2017, not limited to English or Chinese published literatures. The inclusion criteria of the articles were: (1)The participants’ oral and swallowing functions should be evaluated before measuring the muscle strength and endurance of the tongue; (2)The participants were marked as healthy or normal in the literature, and over 20 years of age; (3)The Iowa oral performance instrument (Iowa oral performance instrument, IOPI) was used in the study. The current study presents the results of the systematic review and meta-analysis separately. Conclusion The tongue strength in the front and back of healthy adults’ tongue was significantly negatively correlated with age. The tongue strength in the front of the <60 male’s tongue was significantly higher than that of the >60 male’s. The tongue strength in the front of the <60 female’s tongue was significantly higher than that of the >60 female’s. The tongue endurance in the front and back of the tongue was significantly negatively correlated with age. The difference between the tongue endurance of the male and female was not significant (p <0.05). Recommendations 1. Exercises improving tongue strength should be on the list of elderly health promotion activity suggestions. 2. Regular evaluation and record of tongue strength for early detection of signs of dysphagia is suggested.