Abstract
There is no practical and accessible assessment method to evaluate lip muscle compression strength. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the standard method (i.e., Iowa Oral Performance Instrument) and a practical method in healthy adults. In order to achieve our research purpose, ninety-eight healthy adults (18–40 years) completed lip compression strength measurements (standard method) and lip grasping performance tests using a standard recyclable plastic water bottle (practical method). In the overall sample, the mean and standard deviation for standard method and practical method was 26.7 (7.0) kPa and 255 (119) g, respectively. For the overall sample (n = 98), there was a positive relationship between the two strength tasks [r = 0.56 (0.41, 0.68)]. When separated by sex, positive correlations were observed for men and women with no differences between the observed correlations [difference of 0.06 (−0.2646, 0.3917)]. This result indicates that those individuals who are strong in the standard task will often be strong in the practical task. Future research is needed to determine how well changes in each test track with each other in response to a lip strength training program.
Highlights
It is known that the orofacial muscles play a crucial role with positioning and shaping of the tongue, as well as the activation of the oropharynx during tasks such as mastication, swallowing, and speech [1,2,3]
The primary findings from this study were twofold: (1) large inter-individual variations were observed in the two variables measured and (2) the simple method using a water bottle was positively observed in the two variables measured and (2) the simple method using a water bottle was positively correlated to the standard method by Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)
Women), 41 middle-aged (28 men and 13 women) and 38 older adults (26 men and 12 women), and women), 41 middle-aged (28 men and 13 women) and 38 older adults (26 men and 12 women), and found the wide ranges of variation in lip strength in all age groups
Summary
It is known that the orofacial muscles play a crucial role with positioning and shaping of the tongue, as well as the activation of the oropharynx during tasks such as mastication, swallowing, and speech [1,2,3]. Several studies [4,5,6,7] have investigated the characteristics of orofacial muscle strength (i.e., tongue elevation, cheek compression, and lip compression) using a standard device such as the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). These cross-sectional studies showed different patterns of age-related changes in orofacial strength, which includes a gradual decline in orofacial strength from young to old adults [5,6]. It is unclear whether changes in facial muscle strength are involved in the loss of facial muscle and skin integrity with the generation of wrinkles and sagging [8], one study reported that wrinkles could be reduced by an exercise that involves holding an instrument in the mouth [9]
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