Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Masseter Muscle Thickness and Maximal Bite Force among Healthy Community-Dwelling Persons Aged 65 Years and Older: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on masseter muscle thickness and maximal bite force among healthy community-dwelling elderly persons older than 65 years. Materials and methods: A total of 40 participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and placebo groups. In the experimental group, NMES was applied to both masseter muscles, and electrical signals were gradually increased until the participants felt a grabbing sensation (range 6.0–7.5 mA) in the masseter muscle. The placebo group, in contrast, underwent NMES in the same manner and procedure as the experimental group with less electrical intensity (0.5 mA). All interventions were administered five times a week for six weeks, 20 min per day. The outcomes were masseter muscle thickness assessed using ultrasound and maximal bite force using a bite force meter. The level of significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: The experimental group showed a significant increase in both masseter muscle thickness and maximal bite force as compared with the placebo group (p = 0.002 and 0.019, respectively). Moreover, the degree of change in the masseter muscle thickness and maximal bite force significantly increased in the experimental and placebo groups (p < 0.001, both). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NMES could be an effective modality for increasing masseter muscle thickness and maximal bite force in healthy older adults.

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Synchronized with Chewing Exercises on Bite Force and Masseter Muscle Thickness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in South Korea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…As a result, at least 18 people were required for each group, and a total of 40 participants were recruited for this study, considering potential drop-out. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on previous studies [ 24 ] and are shown in Table 1 . Table 2 shows the general characteristics of the participants.…”