Okamoto Rumiko, Mizukami Katsuyoshi
Doctoral Program in Human Care Science. Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba.
Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2018;55(1):74-80. doi: 10.3143/geriatrics.55.74.
Although it is well documented that exercising is good for the mental health and cognitive function as well as the physical condition in elderly people, exercising is difficult in elderly individuals with a low motor function. To develop an exercise program targeting elderly individuals unsuited for whole-body exercises, we assessed the effects of facial exercises on the mental health in healthy elderly people.
Community-dwelling older adults (N = 75, age range = 65-87 years) were randomly divided into a facial exercises group and a wait-listed control group. A facial exercises program of 30 min was given twice a week for 12 weeks. This program consisted of rhythmic facial movement, muscle stretching, facial yoga, and Tanden breathing. The GHQ-12 for mental health were administered to both groups before and after the 12-week study period. In addition, the facial expression and tongue muscle power were measured.
Fifty-three participants completed the protocol. In the intervention group, the GHQ-12, facial expression, and tongue muscle power improved post-intervention.
These results suggest that facial exercises are effective in improving the mental health, facial expression, tongue muscle power of elderly people, and that exercises may be useful as a therapeutic modality in this population.
尽管有充分的文献记载，运动对老年人的心理健康、认知功能以及身体状况均有益处，但对于运动功能低下的老年人而言，进行运动却困难重重。为了制定一项针对不适合全身运动的老年人的运动计划，我们评估了面部运动对健康老年人心理健康的影响。
将社区居住的老年人（N = 75，年龄范围 = 65 - 87岁）随机分为面部运动组和候补对照组。为期12周，每周进行两次，每次30分钟的面部运动计划。该计划包括有节奏的面部运动、肌肉拉伸、面部瑜伽和丹田呼吸。在为期12周的研究期前后，对两组均进行了用于评估心理健康的一般健康问卷-12（GHQ-12）测试。此外，还对面部表情和舌肌力量进行了测量。
53名参与者完成了该方案。在干预组中，干预后GHQ-12、面部表情和舌肌力量均有所改善。
这些结果表明，面部运动对改善老年人的心理健康、面部表情和舌肌力量有效，并且运动可能作为该人群的一种治疗方式。
