
One common approach used in swallowing management is the effortful swallow. The effortful swallow maneuver was first introduced to improve the contact between the base of the tongue (BOT) and the posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW) during swallowing, thus increasing pressure on the bolus (Pouderoux & Kahrilas, 1995).
What is effortful swallow exercise?
Effortful Swallow The purpose of this exercise is to improve the contact and coordination between the different muscles used during the act of swallowing. In essence, the exercise consists of swallowing. But as you do it, you must try to squeeze all of the muscles of swallowing as hard as you can.
How to improve your swallowing ability?
Goals of Exercises. 1 Shaker Exercise. This simple exercise can strengthen muscles to improve your swallowing ability. 2 Hyoid Lift Maneuver. 3 Mendelsohn Maneuver. 4 Effortful Swallow. 5 Supraglottic Swallow. More items
What is the effortful swallow maneuver used for?
One common approach used in swallowing management is the effortful swallow. The effortful swallow maneuver was first introduced to improve the contact between the base of the tongue (BOT) and the posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW) during swallowing, thus increasing pressure on the bolus (Pouderoux & Kahrilas, 1995).
Does effortful swallowing reduce LES pressure?
Duration of LES pressure did not show significant differences between the effortful swallow and normal swallowing, and sex differences in mean values were also not seen ( Nekl et al., 2012 ). Other relevant results showed that the effortful swallow decreased the risk of incomplete bolus clearance ( Nekl et al., 2012 ).

Who created the effortful swallow?
This therapy technique is attributed to Jerilyn Logeman (1989), one of the pioneers of dysphagia (swallowing) evaluation and therapy and the “inventor” of the Modified Barium Swallow Study.
What does supraglottic swallow do?
A swallowing technique in which a person coughs right at the end of a swallow to help prevent any swallowed food or liquid from going down into the airway.
What muscles do you work when you swallow?
These muscles include the omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid muscles (ansa cervicalis), and the thyrohyoid muscle (CN XII). [17] The longitudinal pharyngeal muscles function to condense and expand the pharynx as well as help elevate the pharynx and larynx during swallowing.
How do you stimulate a swallow response?
To enhance the sensory arm of the swallowing reflex, the therapist uses an ice-cold cotton-tipped applicator dipped in lemon juice to stimulate the throat. This technique of thermal-tactile stimulation can make the swallow brisker and stronger not just once but several times after a single application.
What is the difference between supraglottic swallow and super supraglottic swallow?
Similar to the supraglottic swallow, the super-supraglottic swallow is also used for patients with reduced airway closure, however the difference with the super-supraglottic is patients are instructed to implement an effortful breath hold, “take a breath and hold it tightly while bearing down, continue to hold your ...
Why do I turn my head when I swallow?
The pharyngeal pressure and time parameter analysis using HRM determined the availability of head rotation as a compensatory technique for safe swallowing. Tilting the head smoothes the progress of food by increasing the pressure in the pharynx.
What are the 4 stages of the swallowing process?
There are 4 phases of swallowing:The Pre-oral Phase. – Starts with the anticipation of food being introduced into the mouth – Salivation is triggered by the sight and smell of food (as well as hunger)The Oral Phase. ... The Pharyngeal Phase. ... The Oesophageal Phase.
What are the 3 phases of swallowing?
The swallowing process is commonly divided into oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal stages according to the location of the bolus. The movement of the food in the oral cavity and to the oropharynx differs between eating solid food and drinking liquid.
Can neck exercises help sleep apnea?
For people with mild snoring, research has shown that mouth and throat exercises can help tone the muscles around the airway so that snoring is not as frequent or noisy. Likewise, the same mouth and throat exercises have been shown to improve mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea1 (OSA).
Does tucking your chin help you swallow?
Conclusion Chin-tuck maneuver should benefit dysphagic patients with delay in the swallowing trigger, reduced laryngeal elevation, and difficulties to swallow liquids, but is not the best compensatory strategy for patients with severe dysphagia.
What do you do when food won't go down?
If an obstruction interferes with breathing, call for emergency help immediately. If you're unable to swallow because you feel that food is stuck in your throat or chest, go to the nearest emergency department.
How long does it take to learn to swallow again?
Studies show that most individuals with dysphagia recover within two weeks.
When do you use a super supraglottic swallow?
A speech and language therapist has assessed your swallow and has advised you to practice the 'super supraglottic swallow manoeuvre' to improve the safety of your swallow. Why? This manoeuvre closes your airway before and during your swallow so that food and drink cannot go down 'the wrong way'.
What is supraglottic method?
The supraglottic swallow, a technique that most patients can master, involves simultaneous swallowing and breath-holding, closing the vocal cords and protecting the trachea from aspiration. The patient thereafter can cough to expel any residue in the laryngeal vestibule.
How do you complete a supraglottic swallow?
0:100:52Supraglottic Swallow | Speech Therapy Exercise - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDuring the swallow. While sitting upright inhale deeply and hold your breath while continuing toMoreDuring the swallow. While sitting upright inhale deeply and hold your breath while continuing to hold your breath swallow immediately after swallowing coughed to release your breath.
What are the steps to performing a super supraglottic swallow maneuver?
0:251:24Super-Supraglottic Swallow - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace the bolus in your mouth keeping. It well controlled breathe in through your nose ensuring. TheMorePlace the bolus in your mouth keeping. It well controlled breathe in through your nose ensuring. The bolus remains well controlled in the mouth.
What is effortful swallow?
This systematic review summarizes the biomechanical and functional effects of the effortful swallow in adults with and without dysphagia, highlighting clinical implications and future research needs. Specifically, the effects of the effortful swallow on swallowing physiology, safety, and efficiency were identified, as well as the strengths and limitations of current research.
How does effortful swallowing affect pressure?
Interestingly, the effortful swallow maneuver changed the order of onset pressure, producing earlier pressure in the anterior palate, whereas normal swallowing had onset pressures in the posterior–circumferential portions of the palate ( Fukuoka et al., 2013 ). Also, onset pressure was earlier in the posterior tongue-to-palate relative to submental sEMG pressure ( Steele & Huckabee, 2007 ). Additionally, pressure rise time was longer in the anterior and midpalate regions during the effortful swallow ( Yeates et al., 2010 ). Age differences were also noted, with older adults showing longer rise times than younger adults in the anterior palate but not in the midpalate (see Tables 2 and 3 ).
What are the biomechanical effects of effortful swallow?
Biomechanical effects of the effortful swallow included increased pressures in the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal regions. Future investigations should address the effects of the effortful swallow in individuals with dysphagia and its potential role as a rehabilitative maneuver.
What is swallowing disorder?
Swallowing is a complex sensorimotor event involving precise and coordinated movements between structures from the oral cavity to the esophagus. Biomechanical changes to the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal swallowing phases lead to dysphagia, resulting in physiologic deficits and decreased swallowing safety. An estimated one in 25 adults in the United States has dysphagia ( Bhattacharyya, 2014 ). Swallowing disorders are associated with clinical complications including aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. Aspiration pneumonia is a primary contributing factor in increased length of hospitalization, cost of medical and hospital care, and high mortality rates ( Bray et al., 2017; Kumar et al., 2010 ). Thus, effective and evidence-based management of dysphagia is a health care priority.
How to treat dysphagia?
Dysphagia treatment addresses specific physiologic swallowing deficits that can cause airway invasion and/or significant residue. Due to the variability of the physiologic deficits associated with dysphagia, rehabilitative and compensatory strategies must be chosen that specifically target the affected skills. Compensatory techniques such as head positions and bolus modifications do not alter the physiology of swallowing but can reduce immediate swallowing risk by changing bolus flow or timing. In contrast, rehabilitative or therapeutic strategies alter physiologic aspects of swallowing, potentially promoting long-lasting changes and strengthening of the muscles involved in the swallowing process ( Daniels & Huckabee, 2008; Logemann, 1998, 1999 ). In either case, an appropriate treatment technique should enhance swallowing function and facilitate bolus flow or timing for safer and more efficient deglutition.
How many studies have reported on healthy populations with no history of swallowing disorders, neurologic diseases, head and neck cancer?
Moreover, 20 of the 23 studies (87%) reported on healthy populations with no history of swallowing disorders, neurologic diseases, head and neck cancer/surgery or other structural disorders of the head and neck, pulmonary diseases, or gastrointestinal diseases.
Is tongue pressure higher during swallowing?
A consistent finding across studies was that tongue-to- palate maximum pressure generation was higher during the effortful swallow than in normal swallowing in all sensor locations with both saliva and water trials and across different ages ( Fukuoka et al., 2013; Hind et al., 2001; Lever et al., 2007; Yeates et al., 2010 ). For the anterior sensor location, an age effect was reported among adults of both sexes ranging from 45 to 93 years, with significantly higher pressure in younger than older individuals ( Hind et al., 2001 ). However, another study found no significant age effect when comparing younger (18–35 years) and older (> 60 years) women ( Yeates et al., 2010 ).
How to swallow food?
How to Perform: Take a deep breath and keep holding your breath as you place a small bite of food in your mouth and swallow. Then, cough to clear any remnants of saliva or food which may have gone down past your vocal cords. Lastly, exhale.
Why do we need to do exercises when swallowing?
Like with any other weak or uncoordinated muscles, exercises may help to strengthen and build coordination of the muscles and nerves associated with swallowing.
What is swallowing a complex motor skill?
Swallowing is a complex motor skill that requires the coordination of a multitude of nerves and muscles. Individuals with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, dementia, cervical spine injury, or a stroke, may experience difficulty swallowing. Known as dysphagia, symptoms of trouble swallowing can range from excess saliva production ...
How to get rid of a swollen throat?
How to Perform: Take a deep breath and keep holding your breath as you place a small bite of food in your mouth and swallow. Then, cough to clear any remnants of saliva or food which may have gone down past your vocal cords. Lastly, exhale. During your first few attempts at the exercise, do not use food. Once you have sufficient practice with this exercise, you can try it with a tiny piece of food in your mouth.
What is the purpose of the exercise "Effortful Swallow"?
Effortful Swallow. The purpose of this exercise is to improve the contact and coordination between the different muscles used during the act of swallowing. In essence, the exercise consists of swallowing. But as you do it, you must try to squeeze all of the muscles of swallowing as hard as you can.
How to improve swallowing ability?
Shaker Exercise. This simple exercise can strengthen muscles to improve your swallowing ability. To perform this exercise, lie flat on your back and raise your head as though you were trying to fixate your gaze on your toes. While you do this, make sure not to raise your shoulders.
What is swallowing 2021?
on February 25, 2021. While swallowing is considered an effortless, reflexive action, it's actually quite a complicated and coordinated maneuver involving many muscles and nerves. As a result, neurological conditions characterized by damage to the brain, spinal cord or nerves can often result in difficulties swallowing, called dysphagia.
How to get rid of a swollen throat?
This exercise consists of three simple steps: 1 First, take a deep breath 2 Hold your breath, as you swallow 3 Cough to clear any residues of saliva or food which might have gone down past your vocal cords 3
What is the super supraglottic swallow maneuver?
Super Supraglottic Swallow Maneuver. This exercise is just like the supraglottic maneuver described above, but with an extra twist. After you take that deep breath, bear down while swallowing. The pressure generated helps with swallowing and increases the strength of your swallowing muscles. 3 .
Why is dysphagia important after stroke?
The American Heart Association recommends early screening for dysphagia after stroke to help reduce the risk of developing adverse health consequences, including weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition , pneumonia and overall quality of life concerns. 2 .
How to build swallowing muscle?
This exercise will help you build swallowing muscle strength and control. Place a few small pieces of paper (about one inch in diameter) over a blanket or a towel. Then place a straw in your mouth and suck one of the pieces of paper to its tip.
What is the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders?
The American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, under the auspices of ASHA’s specialty certification program, offers clinical specialty certification in swallowing and swallowing disorders . Specialty certification is a voluntary program and is not required by ASHA to practice in any disorder area.
What is the term for food or liquid remaining in the oral cavity after swallowing?
food or liquid remaining in the oral cavity after the swallow (oral residue ); inability to maintain lip closure, leading to food and/or liquids leaking from the oral cavity (anterior loss of bolus); extra time needed to chew or swallow; food and/or liquids leaking from the nasal cavity (nasopharyngeal regurgitation);
What causes dysphagia in the neck?
Dysphagia may also occur from problems affecting the head and neck, including. cancer in the oral cavity, pharynx, nasopharynx, or esophagus; radiation and/or chemoradiation for head and neck cancer treatment; trauma or surgery involving the head and neck; decayed or missing teeth; and.
What are the consequences of dysphagia?
Consequences of dysphagia include malnutrition and dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, compromised general health, chronic lung disease, choking, and even death. Adults with dysphagia may also experience disinterest, reduced enjoyment, embarrassment, and/or isolation related to eating or drinking.
What does silent aspiration mean?
Silent aspiration may be present, meaning the patient presents without overt signs or symptoms of dysphagia.
Does dysphagia occur in stroke patients?
A later study by Falsetti et al. (2009) found that dysphagia occurs in over one third of patients admitted to stroke rehabilitation units.
Is dysphagia a neurological disease?
Various neurological diseases are known to be associated with dysphagia. The exact epidemiological numbers by condition or disease also remain poorly defined. This, in part, is due to the concomitant medical conditions being reported and the timing and type of diagnostic procedures being used to identify swallowing disorders across neurological populations. Other studies have such findings as follows:
How does chin down affect swallowing?
Patients were instructed to “tuck their head downwards by looking down at their knees.” A positive effect was noted for cup drinking in both groups, eliminating penetration and aspiration in 11 patients. However, chin down worsened the patients’ swallowing safety when taking liquids by teaspoon, causing more deep penetration and aspiration than with the neutral swallow! Note: there were no cases of “normal” swallows without penetration when liquid administered by the clinician with a teaspoon, which may point to the importance of self-feeding small sips by cup.
What is a modified barium swallow study?
The Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) and the Fiberoptic/Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) provide ways to evaluate the effectiveness of postural techniques. However, if a technique works once, the clinician should double check the effectiveness over at least 2-3 trials. We better make sure that this safe-swallow technique works before we mandate someone look down all throughout a meal! Imagine being told to use a chin tuck every time you drink.
Does chin down posture affect valleculae?
Shanahan et al., (1993) studied the chin-down posture in 30 patients with neurological impairment who had aspiration before the swallow. They noted that chin-down eliminated aspiration in only 50% of patients with a pharyngeal delay
Does chin down affect pharyngeal swallows?
Benefit was stable across 30 swallows, and this may be responsible for better airway protection in some people. Chin-down did not affect the pharyngeal swallow response, the speed of initiation of laryngeal vestibule closure, or the pharyngeal transit time while performing the posture.
Does posture help with dysphagia?
Logemann (1993, page 48) stated: “Some clinicians recommend this posture for all patients with dysphagia, but following this type of dictum can only lead some patients to increased difficulty in swallowing. The key to the successful use of posture to improve swallowing is to select the particular posture to match the individual patient’s physiology and anatomy.”
Does the epiglottis reduce aspiration?
May reduce aspiration if the epiglottis is tilted backward and diverts material away from the top of the airway
Can a chin tuck prevent aspiration?
The chin tuck cannot prevent aspiration of the food/liquid dumping out of the pyriforms and into the airway. Coyle (2014) advised against blindly using the chin tuck/chin-down by referring to Shanahan’s 1993 research. Here we are 22 years later, still reminding everyone that the chin tuck is NOT for all patients.
