Age and Sex Differences in Orofacial Strength

Abstract

This study explored age- and sex-related differences in orofacial strength. Healthy adult men (N = 88) and women (N = 83) participated in the study. Strength measures were obtained using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). Anterior and posterior tongue elevation strength measures were obtained using a standard method. Tongue protrusion and lateralization, cheek compression, and lip compression measures utilized adaptors allowing the participant to exert pressure against the bulb in different orientations. Lip and cheek strength measures were greater for men than women, but tongue strength did not differ between sex groups. Strong correlations between age and strength were not observed. However, group comparisons revealed lower tongue protrusion and lateralization strength in the oldest participants. The oldest participants also exhibited lower anterior and posterior tongue elevation strength relative to the middle-age group. Cheek and lip compression strength demonstrated no age-related differences. The current study supplements and corroborates existing literature that shows that older adults demonstrate lower tongue strength than younger adults. Sex differences were noted such that men demonstrated greater lip and cheek strength but not tongue strength. These data add to the literature on normal orofacial strength, allowing for more informed interpretations of orofacial weakness in persons with dysphagia.

Características orofaciais de idosos funcionalmente independentes

“…Clark and Solomon (24) evaluated the strength applied in some movements of the lips, tongue, and cheeks, having found greater lip agility and strength in men compared to women; less protrusion and lateralization of the tongue in the older participants compared to the younger ones; as well as lower tongue elevation of the elderly individuals in relation to the middle-age group, corroborating with the results of the present study.…”

“…Furthermore, skeletal changes occur as age progresses; some areas continue to grow, while others present bone resorption, promoting new angles between the facial bones (22,23) . The transformation of muscular insertions associated with reduction in elasticity of the dermis, reduction of the mobility and tension of facial muscles, and increase of the subcutaneous adipose layer, make up facial flaccidity, a characteristic of aging (24)(25)(26)(27) . Examples of these modifications combined in the stomatognathic system were evidenced by this study's sample.…”

“…Several studies associate these changes in appearance and mobility of the face with age progression, especially compared with young individuals (22)(23)(24)(25) . However, this progressive relationship was not found in the present article, probably because the sample is composed exclusively of patients aged 60 years or older, where structural changes are believed to be already in place and tend to advance slowly.…”

Análise da pressão da língua em indivíduos adultos jovens brasileiros

“…After that, many studies proposed to measure the pressure made by the tongue on the oral cavity (7) during functions such as speech (8) , swallowing, (5) and chewing (9) ; at rest (10) ; and during the maximum isometric contraction for comparing with different portions of the tongue (anterior and dorsum) among young adults (11) . The pressure of the tongue has also been studied in relation to gender (11)(12)(13)(14) and age (5,(13)(14)(15) in individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (16) , neurological conditions (17) , and disorders in the head and neck area (18) . Besides, it is possible to find studies related to the exercises of the tongue (17) ; pressure of the lip and tongue regarding the type of bad occlusion (19) ; the comparison between the maximum isometric pressure of the tongue of individuals with dentofacial deformity and those with adequate occlusal relationship (20) ; and the comparison of pressure and resistance of the tongue among speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, and English, which obtained a lower resistance of the tongue for the latter (13) .…”

Funções orofaciais em portadores de síndrome de Sjögren

“…Atribui-se escore 3 para a mordida com os dentes incisivos, 2 para quando esta fosse realizada com os dentes posteriores e 1 para quando o indivíduo não mordesse o alimento. Para a avaliação quanto ao tipo mastigatório, o escore 4 é utilizado para classificar uma mastigação bilateral alternada, 3 para bilateral simultânea (vertical), 2 para unilateral preferencial (66% dos golpes mastigatórios do mesmo lado) e 1 para mastigação unilateral crônica (95%) dos golpes mastigatórios do mesmo lado) University of Iowa) e da literatura (Clark et al2009;Clark, Solomon, 2012 …”