Table 2 Comparison between the variables at baseline and six weeks in intervention or control group.

From: Tongue brushing enhances the myoelectric activity of the suprahyoid muscles in older adults: a six-week randomized controlled trial

Variables

Intervention group

Control group

p‡

Baseline

6-weeks later

p-value†

Baseline

6-weeks later

p-value†

FVC (m, L)

1.3 (0.2–2.6)

1.5 (0.4–3.3)

0.007

1.5 (0.7–2.3)

1.2 (0.4–2.5)

0.133

0.409

PEFR (m, L/s)

1.1 (0.4–3.9)

1.4 (0.5–4.6)

0.035

1.1 (0.5–5)

1.1 (0.5–4.2)

0.396

0.186

Tongue pressure (m, kPa)

21.1 (0–36.6)

20.4 (12.6–34.4)

0.472

26.3 (6.7–35.8)

24.9 (6.9–35.2)

0.861

0.331

MWST (m)

5 (3–5)

5 (3–5)

0.317

5 (3–5)

5 (2–5)

0.916

0.719

sEMG (m, RSM)

  Inhalation

43.3 (8.3–171.5)**

42.0 (14.2–84.2)**

0.184

34 (14.9–123.1)**

34.0 (13.6–123.1)**

0.050

0.019

  Exhalation

48.7 (18.0–177.5)**

64.9 (21.6–163.0)**

0.001

49.5 (19.4–200.3)**

46.0 (19.4–200.3)*

0.060

 < 0.001

  Tongue pressure

57.0 (16.0–247.7)*

68.0 (16.0–291.6)

0.022

52.7 (20.3–123.0)*

44.7 (19.5–123.0)**

0.101

0.028

  Swallowing

42.4 (18.0–167.9)**

47.0 (26.9–224.5)**

0.007

33.3 (19.5–63.6)**

32.3 (19.2–63.6)**

0.386

0.016

  Tongue cleaning

98.2 (41.0–329.5)

135.7 (50.1–260.9)

0.043

98.2 (25.1–277.2)

87.8 (25.1–277.2)

0.084

0.015

p-value⁋

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

  
  1. †: The variables at baseline and 6-weels later are compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test.
  2. ‡: The intervention and control groups are compared using the Mann–Whitney U test 6-weeks from baseline.
  3. ⁋: RSMs of sEMG are compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test.
  4. *: p < 0.05 and **: p < 0.01 when comparing to tongue cleaning, analysed using Steel test as post hoc test for Kruskal–Wallis test.
  5. FVC, forced vital capacity; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; MWST, modified water swallowing test; sEMG, surface electromyography; RMS, root mean square.
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