Effect of 12 Months of Oral Exercise on the Oral Function of Older Japanese Adults requiring Care

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between oral exercise and oral function among older adults requiring care in the nursing facilities of Japan. Methodology: The subjects were adults aged 65 years or above, requiring care and admitted to the nursing facilities for older adults in Japan. The subjects performed the assigned oral exercises, which included the exercises focused on the neck, shoulder, upper limbs, tongue, lips, cheek movement, vocalization, and deep breathing, in groups under the guidance of medical welfare specialists. The exercises were performed for approximately 15 min once a day, three days a week, for 12 months. The oral function was evaluated prior to the commencement of the oral exercise sessions, and subsequently at three months, six months, nine months, and 12 months after the implementation of exercises. The evaluations included the Dysphagia Risk Assessment for Community-dwelling Elderly (DRACE), tongue pressure, and oral diadochokinesis (OD) assessments. Results: The oral function was evaluated in 20 older adults who performed the assigned oral exercises for 12 complete months. The average DRACE score prior to the commencement of the exercise sessions was 2.55 ±0.64, while the DRACE score after 12 months of exercise implementation was 2.60 ±0.49. The average value of tongue pressure prior to the oral exercises was 21.02 ±2.27 kPa, while that after 12 months was 20.26 ±1.76 kPa. The average OD value for the “pa” syllable prior to the exercises was 4.46 ±0.19 times per second, while that after 12 months was 4.64±0.19 times per second. The OD value for the “ta” syllable prior to the exercises was 4.61±0.22 times per second, while that after 12 months was 4.58±0.26 times per second. The OD value for the “ka” syllable prior to the exercises was 4.19±0.26 times per second, while that after 12 months was 4.04±0.22 times per second. The paired one-way analysis of variance revealed no significant difference between the oral function evaluation values prior to and after the oral exercises. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that oral function in older Japanese adults requiring care could be maintained for 12 months by performing oral exercises.