Decreased Tongue Strength is Related to Skeletal Muscle Mass in COPD Subjects

The probe was inflated at a baseline pressure of 19.6 kilopascal (kPa). To measure MTP, the balloon was positioned on the anterior palate with the lips closed. Subjects raised their tongue and compressed the balloon onto the palate with maximal voluntary muscular effort for approximately 7s. The measurement was taken three times with a 1-min interval. The maximum value was recorded as the MTP.