Tongue strength Oral Health
Conditions
Interventions
Healthy older adults will be randomized to one of two treatment arms. Participants are assigned to one of the two therapy groups based on a sequence generated by the online randomization tool at https
Sponsors
Antwerp University Hospital
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Minimum age 70 years (Van den Steen et al., 2018) 2. Belgian origin 3. Dutch native speaker (Vanderwegen et al., 2012) 4. MIPa and MIPp within Belgian normative data (Vanderwegen et al., 2012)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. History of dysphagia 2. Cognitive deficit (based on the MoCA-score < pc 8) (Thissen et al, 2010; Kessels et al., 2022) 3. Positive dysphagia screening (Yale Swallowing Protocol) (Suiter et al., 2014) 4. If participants drop out for a whole exercise week (i.e. if patients miss three consecutive therapy sessions)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Isolated tongue strength represented by Maximum Isometric Pressure (MIP) measured anteriorly (MIPa) and posteriorly (MIPp) in both treatment arms. MIP is measured with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument version 2.1. and 2.3 (IOPI Medical LCC, Redmond, WA USA). Participants are instructed to press the bulb as hard as possible against the palate. The highest value obtained over three trials was used for MIP. MIPa and MIPp are performed at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of training and 4 weeks after the last training session to document possible detraining effects. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Tongue strength during swallowing represented by Pswal measured anteriorly (PswalA) and posteriorly (PswalP) in both treatment arms. Pswal is measured with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument version 2.1. and 2.3 (IOPI Medical LCC, Redmond, WA USA). Participants are instructed to swallow (saliva) as hard as possible with the bulb in an anterior and posterior position. The highest pressure obtained over three trials is used for Pswal. PswalA and PswalP are performed at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of training and 4 weeks after the last training session to document possible detraining effects. 2. Frailty index measured with the Clinical Frailty Scale, a 9-point scale completed by the researcher. This index reflects the Frailty risk and general health of the subject. The frailty index is assessed at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of training and 4 weeks after the last training session. 3. Nutritional status assessed by means of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a standardised questionnaire to measure the risk of malnutrition in the geriatric population. The MNA is assessed at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of training and 4 weeks after the last training session. | — |
Countries
Belgium
Contacts
Public ContactHanne Massonet
Outcome results
None listed