Abstract
Swallowing-related muscle strength decreases due to sarcopenia, and older people are at risk for sarcopenia and the resultant dysphagia. However, no studies have assessed the direct relationships between whole-body strength and swallowing-related muscles. Therefore, this study investigates the relationships between decreased whole-body strength, which is easily evaluated, and swallowing-related muscle strength. A total of 197 elderly individuals (97 men aged 78.5±6.6years and 100 women aged 77.8±6.2years) were enrolled. Grip strength, walking speed, tongue pressure and jaw opening force were measured, and the effects of age and the relationships between whole-body strength and swallowing-related muscle strength were investigated. With respect to age-related changes, tongue pressure, jaw opening force, grip strength and walking speed decreased with age in men and women. The relationships between whole-body strength and swallowing-related muscle strength were analysed, with age used as the control variable. Among men, tongue pressure was correlated with grip strength and walking speed, whereas jaw opening force was correlated with grip strength. Among women, neither tongue pressure nor jaw opening force was correlated with grip strength or walking speed. There was a sex-based difference in the correlations between whole-body strength and swallowing-related muscle strength. Among men, swallowing-related muscle strength was correlated with whole-body strength, and grip strength could thus serve as a simple indicator for swallowing-related muscle strength. Decreased swallowing-related muscle strength can be inferred in cases involving male patients for whom decreased grip strength is measured during physical examination or is otherwise suggested (eg, by an inability to open plastic bottles).
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
