Construction of facial practice support system using mouth pressure fluctuation

Abstract

There is a tendency that the elderly persons decline in feeding and swallowing. It is known that the oral training such as a facial exercise has an effect to facilitate a smoothness swallowing motion. This paper describes measurements of face exercises using PET plastic bottle and evaluations based on the electromyography (EMG). Here, the orbicularis oris muscle were focused for an evaluation. As results of APDF analysis, it could be confirmed that the motion of keep exhaling and fast exhaling, and using thin mouthpieces had effects to enhance the activity of the orbicularis oris muscle. Therefore, this paper also describes a training system based on results of analysis.