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Submental Muscle Activation During Lingual Tasks in Healthy Adults

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

Lingual strengthening exercises are established to improve lingual function, thereby oral swallowing. This study measured submental muscle activation during maximum isometric pressure (MIP) lingual tasks in healthy adults, tasks that are or can be adopted in lingual strengthening exercises. In addition, the effects of age and gender on submental muscle activation are examined.

Method

Forty-nine participants between the ages of 18 to 35 years and greater than 60 years were included in the study. Participants completed trials of intraoral MIP lingual elevation, protrusion, and depression, during which submental muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG). Peak amplitude measures were normalized and log transformed, following which a three-way ANOVA was performed.

Results

Peak amplitudes of submental muscle activation were highest during lingual MIP protrusion, followed by lingual depression, and were least during lingual elevation. No significant differences in peak amplitudes were observed between older and younger adults, but higher peak amplitudes were recorded in women.

Conclusion

The differential effects of lingual task, age, and gender on peak submental muscle activation are examined. The potential impact of incorporating tasks adopted in this study in lingual strengthening exercises to improve oral and pharyngeal swallowing is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Speech Pathology and Audiology Department, Calvin College, 1810 East Beltline Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546, USA

    Elizabeth R. Oommen

  2. Communication Sciences and Disorders, Grover Center W233, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA

    Y. Kim

Authors
  1. Elizabeth R. Oommen
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  2. Y. Kim
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Correspondence to Elizabeth R. Oommen.

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Oommen, E.R., Kim, Y. Submental Muscle Activation During Lingual Tasks in Healthy Adults. J Nutr Health Aging 22, 1133–1137 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1084-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1084-7

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