The Relationship between Occlusal Force and Physical Fitness in Healthy Young Women

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between occlusal force as a function of the buccal cavity and physical fitness in young women. Seventy nine young women (18-21 years of age), who did not have any serious diseases or tooth problems, cooperated in this study as volunteers. In order to complete the study, maximal occlusal force was measured (GM10), as well as grip strength, the 20 m shuttle-run, sit-ups, ante-flexion in the long sitting position, the standing broad jump and side steps of the physical fitness test established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology were performed. Additionally, one-leg balancing with eyes closed and reaction time were tested. The value of 45 kgf (441 N) of maximal occlusal force obtained by the mean value of the right and the left was the result of the border value by the lower 25th percentile of its distribution. Therefore, subjects were divided into two groups (over 45 kgf, H; less than 45 kgf, L). Results were compared between the H and the L group.
In the H group, it was determined that shorter reaction time, stronger grip strength and higher total counts of the shuttle-run were significantly greater than those in the L group. The occlusal force was significantly correlated to reaction time (r =-0.271), grip strength (r =0.344), shuttlerun (r =0.245) and pedometer count per day (r =0.235).
According to the above outcomes, the occlusal force might be useful as one of indices for assessing physical fitness level.