Premium
Masticatory efficiency contributing to the improved dynamic postural balance: A cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Hwang HaeYun,
Choi JunSeon,
Kim HeeEun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/ger.12349
Subject(s) - masticatory force , medicine , mastication , balance (ability) , confidence interval , confounding , dynamic balance , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , dentistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective To evaluate whether masticatory efficiency is associated with dynamic postural balance. Background Masticatory dysfunction can cause deterioration of general health due to nutritional imbalances, thereby negatively affecting postural balance. However, few studies have investigated the association between masticatory efficiency and postural balance. Materials and methods The masticatory efficiency of 74 participants was evaluated by calculating mixing ability index ( MAI ) using a wax cube. The timed up and go test ( TUGT ) was used to measure dynamic balance. Participants with an MAI above or below the median value of 1.05 were defined as having high or low masticatory efficiency, respectively. An independent samples t ‐test was used to identify significant differences in TUGT , according to masticatory efficiency. Analysis of covariance was performed to adjust for confounding factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between masticatory efficiency and postural balance. Results The high masticatory efficiency group could complete the TUGT exercise approximately 1.67 seconds faster while maintaining the postural balance, compared to the low masticatory efficiency group ( P = .005). Furthermore, the postural imbalance odds of the group with high mastication efficiency decreased by 0.14‐fold, relative to the group with low mastication efficiency (95% confidence interval: 0.04‐0.46). Conclusion With some reservations about statistical power, the association found between masticatory efficiency and postural balance justifies further investigations to confirm the strength of the associations, and possibly to identify causal relationships between mastication and posture in old age.