To Play or Not to Play: Can an Instrument Really Impact Lip and Tongue Performance?
Robert S. Thiebaud,
Takashi Abe,
W. Matt Denning,
Jeremy P. Loenneke,
Micah J. Okerlund,
Joe S. J. Ryan,
Whitney Boyce,
Maggie McBride,
Jared Hernandez
Affiliations
Robert S. Thiebaud
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
Takashi Abe
Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
W. Matt Denning
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
Jeremy P. Loenneke
Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Micah J. Okerlund
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
Joe S. J. Ryan
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
Whitney Boyce
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
Maggie McBride
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
Jared Hernandez
Department of Human Performance and Recreation, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460, USA
(1) Background: Increasing tongue and lip strength may help improve various speech and swallowing disorders, but it is unclear if instrumentalists who use these muscle groups for long periods of time have greater strength and endurance compared to controls. It is also unclear if instrumentalists can more accurately estimate various exercise intensities. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in lip and tongue strength and endurance between instrumentalists and non-instrumentalists (controls). A secondary purpose was to assess differences in ability to estimate various exercise intensities between the two groups. (2) Methods: Instrumentalists and controls’ maximum strength and endurance were measured using the IOPI Pro medical device. In addition, 40%, 60% and 80% of maximum strength were estimated in a randomized order. (3) Results: No significant differences were found between instrumentalists and controls in strength or endurance or the ability to estimate various intensities. Overall, participants were better at estimating tongue strength at moderate intensities and lip strength at higher intensities. (4) Conclusion: Tongue and lip strength and endurance and the ability to estimate exercise intensities are not impacted by years of instrumentalist training compared to healthy controls.
