TITLE:
Relationships between Tongue and Lip Movement and Physical Fitness among Independent Community-Dwelling Elderly in Japan
AUTHORS:
Junko Ouchi, Yuko Hayashi, Michiko Matsubara, Kaoru Fukura, Kumiko Miyata, Michiyo Yamamoto
KEYWORDS:
Tongue and Lip Movement, Oral Diadochokinesis, Physical Fitness, El-derly
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Aging Research,
Vol.9 No.2,
February
28,
2020
ABSTRACT: Aim: The present study aims to examine the association between tongue and
lip movement and physical fitness with a sample of independent
community-dwelling elderly. Methods: A total of 119 older adults living in a
city of Japan participated in this study. Tongue and lip movement was evaluated
with oral diadochokinesis (ODK) rate for the syllable “pa”, “ta”, and “ka”
measured by counting syllable repetitions within one second. Physical fitness
was objectively evaluated with the Timed-Up and Go Test (TUG) and the 30-Second Chair Stand Test
(CS-30). Subjective physical fitness was also assessed with a Physical
Component Summary score (PCS) of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Partial correlation coefficients between ODK rates and physical fitness
measures were obtained after adjusting the effects of age and the number of
present teeth. Results: There were significant differences in ODK rates for the
syllable “ta” and “ka” between the participants aged 65 - 74 and 75
or older. Significant differences in all the physical fitness measures were
also observed in the two age groups. Partial correlation analysis with age and
number of present teeth as covariates yielded significant correlations of ODK
rates to TUG and PCS, but not with CS-30. Conclusion: Older adults whose
functional mobility declined tended to maintain the movement of tongue and
lips. Moreover, those who perceived declining physical fitness also tended to
show a decline of tongue and lip movement. Thus, the present study added some knowledge on the
relationships between general physical fitness and tongue and lip movement. It
also made several suggestions for future interventions based on the findings.