Assessment of test-retest reliability of tongue protrusion strength and endurance in a cohort of healthy adults

Details

Supervisors

Poncin, William

Faculty

Faculté des sciences de la motricité

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de la motricité, orientation générale, à finalité approfondie

Abstract

Introduction: Deficits in protrusive tongue motor skills may be related to sleep apnea syndrome. Reliable standards are lacking for assessing these deficits and guiding therapy. The primary objective is to evaluate test-retest reliability of protrusive measures in healthy individuals. The secondary objectives include exploring tongue relationships with other motor skills and proposing age-specifics norms for tongue protrusion motor skills. Methods: Protrusion tongue motor skills were measured during two sessions using the IOPI device and a standardized 3D measuring structure with two different interfaces. Test-retest reliability was assessed to determine the better option among these two options. Tongue elevation strength and endurance, grip strength and maximal respiratory pressure were also measured. Results: Thirty participants aged 18-65 were recruited. The sliding interface emerged as the most reliable option for assessing protrusive tongue motor skills. The most prominent correlation observed was between protrusion strength and maximal inspiratory pressure (r=0.473) Protrusion strength and endurance measured with the sliding interface were 19.2 [15.8-23.5] kPa for strength and 9.62 [6.17-11.53] s, respectively. Conclusions: This study enhanced a standardized assessment of tongue protrusion, offering improved validity and reliability. Tongue protrusion is not primarily affected by aging, distinguishing it from tongue elevation.