Effects of chewing exercises on the occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness in community-dwelling Koreans aged 65 years and older: A randomised assessor-blind trial

Chewing exercises have been applied in clinical settings to improve the occlusal force and function of the masseter muscle in elderly individuals. However, the clinical relevance and effects of chewing exercises are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of bilateral chewing exercises on the occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness in community-dwelling Koreans aged 65 years. Forty community-dwelling healthy elderly individuals were enrolled in this study. They were assigned to the experimental or the control group. The experimental group performed chewing exercises using medical equipment developed to facilitate such exercises. The chewing exercises were divided into isometric and isotonic types and were performed for 20 min/d, 5 days/wk, for 6 weeks. The control group did not perform any chewing exercises. The outcome measures were occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness, which were evaluated using an occlusometer and ultrasound device, respectively. A pairedttest and an independentttest were used to evaluate the training effects. Within-group comparisons showed that occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness improved significantly in the experimental group (P < .001 for both), while the control group showed no significant improvements (P = .098 and .130). Between-group comparisons showed that the experimental group had a greater increase in occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness (P < .05 for both) compared to the control group. These results suggest that chewing exercises are effective in improving occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness in healthy elderly individuals.