Changes of Oral and Physical Functions in Older Japanese Who Participated in Keyboard Harmonica and Exercise Classes during COVID-19-Related Movement Restrictions

Shinsuke Mizutani, Hideaki Matsuzaki, Kiyomi Iyota, Asuka Tani, Saori Oku, Hiroaki Tabuchi, Akiko Fujiwara, Shizuka Hase-Tamaru, Hiro Kishimoto and Kenji Narazaki ()
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Shinsuke Mizutani: Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Hideaki Matsuzaki: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Fukuoka Mirai Hospital, 5-1 Kashiiteriha, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 813-0017, Japan
Kiyomi Iyota: Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Asuka Tani: Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Saori Oku: Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Hiroaki Tabuchi: Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Akiko Fujiwara: Section of Geriatric Dentistry and Perioperative Medicine in Dentistry, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Shizuka Hase-Tamaru: Department of Life, Environment and Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 3-30-1 Wajiro-higashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan
Hiro Kishimoto: Department of Behavior and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human–Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Kenji Narazaki: Center for Liberal Arts, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 3-30-1 Wajiro-higashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Many older people have restricted activities or movements because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which causes concerns about secondary health problems. This study aimed to investigate how frailty-prevention activities implemented by local governments have changed the health of community-dwelling older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this observational study, the participants were 23 older Japanese people who took part in keyboard harmonica or exercise classes in 2021. Oral function examination and physical function tests were conducted at baseline and after 10 months of follow-up. In each class, the participants met 15 times and worked on assignments at home. The results showed that oral diadochokinesis/pa/, which represents lip dexterity, improved during 10 months (from 6.6 to 6.8 times/s, p < 0.046); however, grip strength ( p < 0.005) and total skeletal muscle mass ( p < 0.017) decreased in the keyboard harmonica group. In the exercise group, a statistically significant difference was found only in grip strength, which decreased ( p < 0.003). The oral and physical functions of older people who participated in frailty-prevention activities implemented by local governments characteristically changed. Moreover, activity restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused decreased grip strength.

Keywords: oral function; keyboard harmonica; physical activity; functional disability; older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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