Effect of dentures wearing on motor reaction time and balance function in elderly people.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of dentures wearing on the parameters of physical fitness, particularly on agility and balance function in elderly people.


METHODS
A case control study.


METHODS
Motohachiohjimachi, Hachiohji, Tokyo, Japan.


METHODS
Motor reaction time was measured in the presence and absence of dentures in the subjects who were 1) in a sitting position and lifted the lower limbs as fast as possible in response to a stimulus (Sitting Group) and those who were 2) in a standing position and jumped upright as fast as possible in response to a light stimulus (Jumping Group). The effects of dentures wearing on balance function were investigated by comparing the measured values of static and dynamic body sway.


CONCLUSIONS
Light-reaction time was not significantly influenced by dentures wearing in Sitting Group performing a light body movement that required little muscular force. In a relatively heavy body movement that required agility (i.e., jumping from the standing position), the reactivity changed depending on the muscular force; which might result in the difference of the reactivity due to dentures wearing (i.e., t-test showed a significant difference in the light-reaction time under clenching posture between with and without wearing dentures (p < 0.01)). No significant difference was observed in body sway under clenching posture between with and without wearing dentures.Therefore, we assumed that reaction speed varied depending upon dentures wearing.
Hachiohji Health Cooperative Shiroyama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. moroz@nifty.com
Kazunori
K
Morozumi
Iwao
I
Yamamoto
Takayuki
T
Fujiwara
Takuya
T
Nishiya
Yoshie
Y
Takeuchi
Chieko
C
Umeki
Tomihiro
T
Ichikawa
Hiroshi
H
Karasuno
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003778:Dentures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*