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- Title
Effects of Tongue Strength Training on Mealtime Function in Long-Term Care.
- Authors
Namasivayam-MacDonald, Ashwini M.; Burnett, Lynsey; Nagy, Ahmed; Waito, Ashley A.; Steele, Catriona M.
- Abstract
Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an 8-week tonguestrengthening intervention protocol for seniors with mild to moderately severe cognitive impairment in the long-term care setting. Outcome measures of interest included tongue strength, mealtime duration, and food intake. Method: In this pre–post group study of treatment outcomes, data were collected from 7 adults (aged 84– 99 years). Participants were observed across a series of mealtimes to determine mealtime duration and intake before and after 16 treatment sessions. During therapy, participants performed isometric strength exercises and tongue pressure accuracy tasks using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (model number 2.1, IOPI Medical). Differences in tongue strength as a function of treatment were explored between the first 3 and final 3 sessions using univariate repeated-measures analysis of variance. Single-subject methods were used to explore baseline and posttreatment data for measures of mealtime function. Results: Anterior and posterior tongue strength increased significantly with therapy. There were no changes in mealtime function. Conclusions: This study shows proof of concept that some older adults with cognitive impairment are able to participate in a tongue-strengthening intervention and achieve improvements in tongue strength. Failure to find evidence of associated changes of mealtime function suggests that mealtime measures may not be directly sensitive to changes in tongue strength.
- Subjects
LONG-term care of older people; ISOMETRIC exercise; TONGUE physiology; COGNITION disorders in old age; INGESTION; MUSCLE strength
- Publication
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2017, Vol 26, Issue 4, p1213
- ISSN
1058-0360
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1044/2017_AJSLP-16-0186