Influence of height, weight and body mass index in the axial tongue force.

PURPOSE To analyze the influence of weight, height and body mass index in the axial tongue force. METHODS Medical records with data from 44 subjects aged between 20 and 37 years, 11 (25%) males and 33 (75%) female, were analyzed. The investigated information were weight, height, result of clinical evaluation for tongue force (lingual tonus) and instrumental assessment of axial tongue force, which was accomplished by using the FORLING. Data was statistically analyzed. RESULTS No differences were observed between the force values regarding the variables body mass index classification and clinical classification of tongue force. Body mass index and weight had positive correlation with mean tongue force. There was a strong positive correlation between the variables mean force, maximum force and highest maximum force. CONCLUSION Although body mass index and weight correlated positively with the mean axial tongue force, there was no association between body mass index classification and the axial tongue forces.