Efficacy of a Health Promotion Program with Facial Mimetic Muscle Training in Residents of a Medical Care Facility for the Elderly

Abstract

Objective: We conducted an anti-aging medical checkup and health promotion program, including facial mimetic muscle training, in residents of a geriatric medical care facility. Here, we evaluate the physical and mental effects of these activities.Methods: Three male and 16 female residents (83.7±6.8 years, BMI 22.2±3.0) underwent occupational therapy, with the addition of facial mimetic muscle training with a medical device, “M Patakara”, for 3.0 — 4.5 minutes four times per day for 24 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by anti-aging medical checkup before and after the study.Results: The Anti-Aging QOL Common Questionnaire (AAQol) showed a significant improvement in the symptom scores of “anorexia”, “early satiety”, “epigastralgia”, “constipation”, “headache”, “dizziness”, and “arthralgia” (p‹0.05). Laboratory results showed significant changes in LDL cholesterol (111.6±24.8 mg/dl → 120.2±27.5mg/dl, p=0.022) and IGF-I (123.2±50.9ng/ml → 109.6±55.5ng/ml, p=0.005) at 24 weeks. Serum cortisol (11.7±3.8μg/dl → 15.6±5.3μg/dl, p=0.001) significantly increased while DHEA-s/cortisol ratio did not change. The Wisconsin card sorting test showed a significant reduction in total errors (32.6±4.6 → 27.8 ±7.5, p=0.022) and unique errors (5.2±5.1 → 1.9 ±2.7, p=0.026). Body composition analysis (Physion MD) revealed a decrease in muscle mass in the upper arms (0.50±0.14kg → 0.45±0.12kg, p=0.005) and lower limbs (4.4±1.2kg → 4.1±1.0kg, p=0.006). There was no significant change in vascular age by fingertip acceleration plethysmogram (SDP-100) or in osteo-sono-assessment index of the calcaneus by ultrasonography (AOS-100NW). Saliva secretion increased significantly, from 8.0±5.0 mm/min to 12.6±2.3 mm/min (p‹0.001) by the coffee filter method. Labial closure strength and electromyographic activity of the facial mimetic muscles increased significantly. No serious adverse event occurred during or after the study.Conclusion: This health promotion program with facial mimetic muscle training improved saliva secretion and subjective symptoms, indicating that it improved QOL in these aged facility patients. On anti-aging medical checkup, however, it was ineffective in preventing sufficiently the muscle weakening.