The effectiveness of a patakara device in improving oral function and quality of life in people with intellectual disabilities

Background: Better labial closure strength (LCS) may improve eating, swallowing, and quality of life. Patakara is an efficient device to enhance lip strength. In this study, we analyzed differences in LCS and quality of life between before and after training with Patakara in people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: We recruited twenty participants with intellectual disabilities who had poor eating status, lower LCS, or poor oral hygiene status. These participants performed training using Patakara three times a day (3 min each time for five times/week) for 3 months. Oral examination was performed twice, and structural questionnaires and lip force measurements were performed five times. Cheek temperature was also recorded. Results: The maximum value of lip force showed a significant increase during the 3-month training period. In addition, the proportion of participants who kept food in the mouth for a long time when eating significantly reduced. Moreover, the physical functioning and mental health scores of SF-36 showed a significant increase. Conclusions: Patakara training effectively increased lip muscle strength and improved dietary function. Nevertheless, further studies with a longer training duration to investigate the long-term effects of Patakara training are needed.