舌の筋力はジャンプ機能と握力と関連

高齢者の舌の筋力はジャンプ機能と握力と関連するが、古典的な機能テストとは関連しないという論文を紹介します。

Buehring B, Hind J, Fidler E, Krueger D, Binkley N, Robbins J. Tongue Strength Is Associated with Jumping Mechanography Performance and Handgrip Strength but Not with Classic Functional Tests in Older Adults. Am Geriatr Soc. 2013 Feb 4. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12124. [Epub ahead of print]

対象は97人の地域在住高齢者で横断研究です。舌の筋力はIOPIで評価しました。身体機能テストはSPPBを行い、ジャンプ機能、握力、サルコペニアの有無（筋肉量はDEXAで評価し、四肢筋肉量÷身長÷身長のカットオフ値以下かどうかで判断）も評価しました。

結果ですが、サルコペニアは23.7%に認めました。舌の筋力は握力、ジャンプの高さ・パワーと有意な関連を認めました。SPPBと四肢筋肉量÷身長÷身長は、舌の筋力と有意な関連を認めませんでした。サルコペニアで口腔咽頭の機能低下が生じる可能性があるという結論です。

サルコペニアの摂食・嚥下障害に関連する論文ですが、舌の筋力と筋肉量と身体機能は有意な関連を認めず、握力・ジャンプしか関連を認めませんでした。筋肉量より筋力のほうが重要かもしれませんね。サルコペニアをEWGSOPの診断基準で判断したら違うかもしれませんが。

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To determine whether classic muscle function tests and jumping mechanography (JM) are related to tongue strength.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional.

SETTING:

Community.

PARTICIPANTS:

Ninety-seven community-dwelling individuals aged 70 and older (49 female, 48 male, mean age 80.7, range 70-95) with and without identified sarcopenia.

MEASUREMENTS:

Participants performed muscle function tests including the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), grip strength, and JM. Isometric tongue strength was evaluated using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). JM consisted of maximal countermovement jumps performed on a force plate to calculate weight-corrected peak power and jump height. Total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess appendicular lean mass (ALM) to define sarcopenia based on commonly used ALM/height(2) cutoffs. Associations between IOPI measures and other muscle function tests were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Sarcopenia was present in 23.7% (23/97) of this cohort. Anterior isometric tongue pressure was positively correlated with grip strength (P = .003), jump height (P = .01), and power (P = .04). Individuals in the lowest tertile of tongue pressure had lower scores on these muscle function tests than individuals in the other tertiles. Classic functional tests and ALM/height(2) were unrelated to tongue strength.

CONCLUSION:

In older adults with and without sarcopenia, isometric tongue pressure is positively correlated with grip strength and jump height and power. These data support consideration of oropharyngeal functional decline as part of the sarcopenia syndrome.