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Abstract
Background: Tongue pressure is essential to normal tongue function. Tongue pressure influences mastication and swallowing.
Aim: The study investigated the tongue pressure of healthy, English-speaking individuals aged 60 to 79 in the United States to establish an anterior and posterior tongue pressure database. The study examined sex differences in tongue pressure. In addition, the study established an anterior-to-posterior tongue pressure ratio.
Population: Fifty healthy adults aged 60-79, balanced by sex (25 males; M = 67.48, SD = 5.01, 25 females; M = 67.84, SD = 5.29).
Method: The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument was used to measure anterior and posterior maximum isometric tongue pressure and to establish an average anterior-to-posterior tongue pressure ratio based on maximum isometric pressure.
Results: Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and a linear regression. The mean MIP for the anterior is 46.48 kPa (SD = 10.51) and for the posterior is 48.60 kPa (SD = 10.49). Results revealed no statistically significant difference between anterior and posterior maximum isometric pressures (p = 0.08) or between sexes for anterior (p = 0.38) or posterior (p = 0.70) maximum isometric pressures. A linear regression revealed a positive correlation between anterior and posterior tongue pressures per participant (R2 = 0.97). The average anterior-to-posterior tongue pressure ratio is .98 kPa (SD =.17). A two-tailed t-test yielded no statistical difference in the APTR by sex (p = 0.32).
