Swallowing Exercises

fishmanpa
fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I posted this for Susan but it's good info for all. Given to me by my Speech/Language Pathologist at Johns Hopkins. If it's not [art of the Superthread, perhaos it can be added.

"T"

 

Swallowing Exercises

 

Falsetto Phonation or “Sirening”

Make a siren noise from a low pitch to a high pitch. Use a “ng” sound. Hold the pitch for 2-3 seconds. Repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

 

Masako Maneuver

Protrude tongue slightly between your front teeth. Hold tongue in this position by bearing down gently with your teeth. Swallow while keeping tongue protruded. Use this technique several times daily when swallowing your own secretions (water if you have no saliva). Repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

 

Effortful Swallow

Keep your mouth closed and the tip of your tongue elevated to your palate. Swallow as strong as you can, focusing on squeezing with your throat muscles (like you have something stuck in your throat and you have to get it down), repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

 

Mendelsohn Maneuver

 

Place fingers gently on your neck to feel how the larynx/voice box rises when you swallow. When you feel your larynx rise to it’s highest point, try to hold the larynx in an elevated position for 5 seconds. Repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

Comments

  • sin9775
    sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #2
    Swallowing Exercises

    Thank you so much for passing this along.  I assume my brother is getting some exercises to do, but I passed them along to him anyway.  I figured it couldn't hurt!  Now if only he will do them.  Undecided

     

    ~S~

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #3
    Swallowing exercises...

    Ever since taste came back, my favorite swallowing exercise was to choke down bits of my most favorite sourdough bread.  Over time, the bits have gotten larger, and the butter and oil required to get it down have diminished.  ;)

    Deb

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    That last one is hard to do....

    The second I swallow my larynx lowers itself....LOL.  I'm going to put these in my favorites....who knows if down the road swallowing might become an issue....

    p

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Swallowing Exercises

     These are the same exercises I was doing when taking electro stimulation trying to get my swallowing back. But it was too late for me Radiation the gift that keeps on giving just killed the mussels, I  guess is was due to having it twice.  

     

    Hondo

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    #6
    "T"

    Thanks for posting this should be very useful for many. They never told me about many of these.

          Jeff

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #7
    It Ain't Easy Being Green

    Yes, these are very difficult, especially if your swallowing has been compromised. But in all seriousness, DO THEM! If you can't do 3 sets of ten reps no worries, Start out slow, doing less and build up to it. Your swallowing muscles are no different than any other muscles. You'r not going to hit the gym and do 3 sets of ten bench press right?  Start with 1 set of 5 or whatever you can do and work you way up but keep on doing them. 

    I can tell you that they've helped me. While I still have some swallowing issues, I've improved substantially since the memorial Day weekend when I started eating solids again.

    Now... if they only had exercised for saliva glands......

    "T"

     

     

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    SuperThread

    T, there was a link to an old post on the SuperThread that was labeld Swallowing Exercises. But it didn't really have much value compared to yours... So I updated the SuperThread with a link to your post, labeled;

    SWALLOWING EXERCISES - UPDATED by fishmanpa 2013

    John

  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #9
    fishmanpa said:

    It Ain't Easy Being Green

    Yes, these are very difficult, especially if your swallowing has been compromised. But in all seriousness, DO THEM! If you can't do 3 sets of ten reps no worries, Start out slow, doing less and build up to it. Your swallowing muscles are no different than any other muscles. You'r not going to hit the gym and do 3 sets of ten bench press right?  Start with 1 set of 5 or whatever you can do and work you way up but keep on doing them. 

    I can tell you that they've helped me. While I still have some swallowing issues, I've improved substantially since the memorial Day weekend when I started eating solids again.

    Now... if they only had exercised for saliva glands......

    "T"

     

     

    one more

    to add to "T's" list, take a small sip of water, tuck chin down to chest, hold your breath,swallow,cough sharply, swallow again~~I do all the exercises listed, they were all given to me during my speech therpy, OSU Wexner Cancer Center, calls it speech therpy, but it covers so much..swallowing, voice,speaking, etc~~my voice and swallowing are near normal, but I still do the exercises

     

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #10
    Skiffin16 said:

    SuperThread

    T, there was a link to an old post on the SuperThread that was labeld Swallowing Exercises. But it didn't really have much value compared to yours... So I updated the SuperThread with a link to your post, labeled;

    SWALLOWING EXERCISES - UPDATED by fishmanpa 2013

    John

    :)

    Thanks John! Pay it forward right?

    "T"

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #11
    swallowing 101

    Hi “T”,

    I find swallowing in general an exercise and eating and drinking even more so.  Small bites and plenty of liquids.  Currently, my days of grabbing a bag of chips and chowing down (without liquids) is over, or fool hearted.

    I am not sure how much it helped to force myself to swallow throughout treatments, but that’s what I read to do and I did it (thank you H&N 12/11 – 3/12). 

    It is a good list “T”, very few come out of the H&N requirements unscathed.  Before cancer I took eating for granted (let alone swallowing), not anymore.

    Keep singing and slurping & swallowing.

    Matt

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #12
    CivilMatt said:

    swallowing 101

    Hi “T”,

    I find swallowing in general an exercise and eating and drinking even more so.  Small bites and plenty of liquids.  Currently, my days of grabbing a bag of chips and chowing down (without liquids) is over, or fool hearted.

    I am not sure how much it helped to force myself to swallow throughout treatments, but that’s what I read to do and I did it (thank you H&N 12/11 – 3/12). 

    It is a good list “T”, very few come out of the H&N requirements unscathed.  Before cancer I took eating for granted (let alone swallowing), not anymore.

    Keep singing and slurping & swallowing.

    Matt

    Hey Matt,

    I'm 12 weeks post this coming week and while I still have swallowing issues, I'm seeing progress. I just had a BLT on a soft potato roll and while I need my water, I was actually able to swallow quite a few bites with out it. Drinking water and shakes etc. is effortless now. Seven weeks ago I couldn't drink more than one sip at a time and now I can down a bottle with no problem. That helps when the pills get stuck in my throat which they still do due to the pocket in the back of my throat from the biopsies. It's better than it was but it's still an issue.

    Eating still is work and my jaw gets tired from chewing but there is a noticable difference. I still can't do meats (beef) as they're too fibrous but small pieces of chicken are Ok. 

    At any rate I still do the exercises as much as I can and I do feel they've helped I'll know for sure on the 6th of August when I go to JH. I see my SLP for a swallow study and then it's bloodwork and then my RO for a scope and exam. I''ll be seeing my MO on the 9th. First post Tx PET will be later in August. I'm waiting on the appointment confirmation. 

    I'm hoping to get to the point of grabbing anything out of the pantry or fridge and eating away. I may or may not happen but I'm sure as hell gonna try! 

    Hang in there and keep on working those swallow muscles!

    "T"

     

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    fishmanpa said:

    :)

    Thanks John! Pay it forward right?

    "T"

    Always...

    You got it bro....

    JG

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #14
    fishmanpa said:

    Hey Matt,

    I'm 12 weeks post this coming week and while I still have swallowing issues, I'm seeing progress. I just had a BLT on a soft potato roll and while I need my water, I was actually able to swallow quite a few bites with out it. Drinking water and shakes etc. is effortless now. Seven weeks ago I couldn't drink more than one sip at a time and now I can down a bottle with no problem. That helps when the pills get stuck in my throat which they still do due to the pocket in the back of my throat from the biopsies. It's better than it was but it's still an issue.

    Eating still is work and my jaw gets tired from chewing but there is a noticable difference. I still can't do meats (beef) as they're too fibrous but small pieces of chicken are Ok. 

    At any rate I still do the exercises as much as I can and I do feel they've helped I'll know for sure on the 6th of August when I go to JH. I see my SLP for a swallow study and then it's bloodwork and then my RO for a scope and exam. I''ll be seeing my MO on the 9th. First post Tx PET will be later in August. I'm waiting on the appointment confirmation. 

    I'm hoping to get to the point of grabbing anything out of the pantry or fridge and eating away. I may or may not happen but I'm sure as hell gonna try! 

    Hang in there and keep on working those swallow muscles!

    "T"

     

    Pills

    to anyone who has a problem with swallowing pills buy a pill crusher, I use mine all the time and mix with water.

     

  • SL12345
    SL12345 Member Posts: 6
    #15
    jackflash22 said:

    Pills

    to anyone who has a problem with swallowing pills buy a pill crusher, I use mine all the time and mix with water.

     

    Pill Crusher

    I have had such difficulty with swallowing the crushed pill still! I have to break the melted pill into sections and drink it with ensure and water. 

     

  • SL12345
    SL12345 Member Posts: 6
    #16
    Swallowing Exercises

    Thank you for sharing these exercises. 

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