Effective training duration and frequency for lip-seal training in older people using a self-training instrument

Objective To determine the effects of the training duration and frequency on lip-seal strength (LSS) in older people. Background Lip-seal is important for speaking, eating and swallowing. LSS decreases after training ends; therefore, continuous training is essential. Materials and methods Participants underwent the resistance training of LSS. Regarding training duration, eight women aged >= 65 years participated in a crossover study with trainings A (direction: 1, duration: 50 seconds) and B (directions: 3, duration: 3 minutes), daily for 4 weeks. Regarding training frequency, 40 women aged >= 65 years were divided into four groups based on frequency (everyday, every-other-day, once-a-week and control groups), and all groups excluding the control group performed training B for 4 weeks. LSS was measured at weeks 0, 2 and 4 using a digital strain gauge. Friedman's test was used, followed by Steel-Dwass test (alpha = 0.05). Results Regarding the effects of the training duration, significant differences in LSS were noted between weeks 0 and 4 for training B, but no difference was noted for training A. Regarding training frequency, significant differences were observed between weeks 0 and 2 or 4 in the everyday and once-a-week groups. Significant differences were observed in the every-other-day group between weeks 0 and 4 and no difference in the control group. For all groups, median LSS was higher in week 2 or 4 than that in week 0. Conclusion Lip-seal training for 3 minutes per session everyday, every-other-day or once-a-week for 4 weeks increased LSS of older people.