Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan.
Gerodontology. 2012 Jun;29(2):e1078-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00615.x. Epub 2012 Jan 30.
To quantitatively estimate tongue function, we developed a handy device for intraoral pressure measurement. The objective of this study was to assess maximum voluntary tongue pressure (MVTP) in Japanese frail elderly persons receiving nursing care services.
The study included 42 men and 87 women, aged 58-100 years. To record MVTP, the participants were asked to compress the balloon (diameter: 18 mm) of the disposable intraoral pressure probe onto their palates for 7 s using the maximum voluntary effort of the tongue. Pressures were recorded three times at 1 min intervals.
Maximum voluntary tongue pressure was successfully measured in 111 persons. Mean (standard deviation) MVTP was 18 (12) kPa, with a range of 0-63 kPa. The remaining 18 persons could not accurately follow our instructions and MVTP could not be measured.
In comparison with the reported standard value using the same device, the frail elderly persons included in our study were found to exert less MVTP than healthy dentate individuals. These results suggest the need for proper quantitative evaluation of oral function, including tongue capacity, at nursing care facilities.
为了定量评估舌功能，我们开发了一种用于口腔内压力测量的便捷设备。本研究的目的是评估接受护理服务的日本虚弱老年人口腔最大自主压力（MVTP）。
该研究纳入了 42 名男性和 87 名女性，年龄 58-100 岁。为了记录 MVTP，要求参与者用舌头最大自主力将一次性口腔内压力探头的气球（直径：18mm）压在 palate 上 7 秒。在 1 分钟间隔内记录三次压力。
成功测量了 111 人的 MVTP。平均（标准差）MVTP 为 18（12）kPa，范围为 0-63kPa。其余 18 人无法准确遵循我们的指示，因此无法测量 MVTP。
与使用相同设备报告的标准值相比，我们研究中的虚弱老年人比健康有牙个体的 MVTP 要小。这些结果表明，在护理机构中需要对口腔功能（包括舌功能）进行适当的定量评估。
