• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.388-395
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• 2011

This study was performed to grasp the relation between the effect and the satisfaction of a mouth gymnastics program on the promotion of oral function of old persons. The experimental group of 47 old persons conducted a mouth gymnastics exercise two times every week for 12 weeks, while the control group of 39 old persons carrying out physical examinations. The mean salivary secretion in the experimental group was 0.075 ml and more than 0.046 ml in the control group. Maximum mouth opening in the experimental group, 4.12 cm, was higher than 3.92 cm in the control. Oral diadochokinesis in experimental and control group was 1.69 times per second and 1.65, respectively. The result of principal component analysis by Quartimax method with Kaiser normalization showed that program prevalence prediction of mouth-gymnastics exercise was high, and it is estimated that this exercise program would be more popular for health promotion of old persons. From the correlation analysis, mouth gymnastics exercise made salivary flow increase(r=.592), this exercise should be recommended actively for improving mouth health of old persons. Also more modification is required for old persons with difficulty in mouth gymnastics exercise. Some movements of the mouth gymnastics exercise need be modified, and then the exercise should be publicized as one of the ways to improve holistic health of the aged.