Tongue thickness measured by ultrasonography is associated with tongue pressure in the Japanese elderly.

ABSTRACT: The term "oral frailty" reflects the fact that oral health is associated with physical frailty and mortality. The gold standard methods for evaluating the swallowing function have several problems, including the need for specialized equipment, the risk of radiation exposure and aspiration, and general physicians not possessing the requisite training to perform the examination. Hence, several simple and non-invasive techniques have been developed for evaluating swallowing function, such as those for measuring tongue pressure and tongue thickness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tongue thickness ultrasonography and tongue pressure in the Japanese elderly. We evaluated 254 elderly patients, who underwent tongue ultrasonography and tongue pressure measurement.

SUBMITTER: Nakamori M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7413413 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature