Effects of Oral Function Training and Oral Health Status on Physical Performance in Potentially Dependent Older Adults

Masataka Sasajima, Akihiro Yoshihara and Ayuko Odajima
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Masataka Sasajima: Health Promotion Division, Department of Health and Social Welfare, Niigata Prefectural Government, 4-1 Shinko-cho, Chuo-Ku, Niigata 950-8570, Japan
Akihiro Yoshihara: Division of Oral Science for Health Promotion, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata University, 2-5274 Gakkocho-dori, Chuo-Ku, Niigata 951-8514, Japan
Ayuko Odajima: Division of Oral Science for Health Promotion, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata University, 2-5274 Gakkocho-dori, Chuo-Ku, Niigata 951-8514, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an oral function training program and indicators of oral health status on improvements in physical performance induced by physical function training in dependent older adults. The participants were 131 potentially dependent older adults (age: ?65 years) who were randomly divided into two groups: an oral intervention and a control group. All participants underwent physical function training, but only the intervention group took part in the oral function training program. In total, 106 participants completed all of the survey components (60 and 46 participants from the intervention and control groups, respectively). The measures of physical fitness examined included the one-leg standing time with eyes open (OLST) and the timed up and go test (TUG). Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the effects of the oral function intervention and health status on physical fitness. The results revealed that the oral function intervention significantly improved OLST and TUG times. These findings suggest that evaluations of oral health status and interventions aimed at activating oral functions are associated with improvements in physical fitness among potentially dependent older adults.

Keywords: physical function; oral function training; balance ability; oral diadochokinesis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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