Effectiveness of virtual reality-based oral muscle strength training on oral function in older adults

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a virtual reality (VR)-based oral strength training program and apply it to older adults to assess improvements in oral function. Methods: The oral strength training was conducted 12 times over 6 weeks, from late August to early October 2023, at the participants’ institution. Each session lasted approximately 60 minutes. Forty-one participants aged 65 and older were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Results: Following the VRbased oral muscle strength training, the O’Leary index decreased by 0.42 (p<0.01), and the Löe & Silness index decreased by 1.11 (p<0.01). Additionally, there was a 1.24 reduction in tongue tie (p<0.01) and a 0.55 increase in salivation (p<0.05). Post hoc comparisons revealed significant differences between the two groups in gingival bacterial film (p<0.001), gingivitis (p<0.001), and tongue plaque (p<0.01). Conclusions: The study found that VR-based oral muscle strength training can improve oral health among older adults. Therefore, the VR-based oral muscle strength training program developed in this study could be beneficial in health promotion programs for the elderly.