Swallowing Exercises
The following exercises should be performed only as indicated by a clinical speech pathologist.
Complete ____ repetitions of each exercise ____ times per day.
Closure of the Larynx
- Breath hold
Take a breath. Bear down and hold your breath. You should not hold your breath with your lips, but in your throat, like you do when you are trying to lift something very heavy. Hold your breath for ____ seconds.
- Push-pull with phonation
Place your hands under your chair and pull as you are trying to lift your chair up with you in it. Hold your breath tightly. Let go of your breath (still pulling) and say “ahh”.
- Head rotation with phonation
Turn your head to the left/right. Hold your breath tightly. Let go of your breath and say “ahh”.
Increasing UES opening and hyolaryngeal elevation
- Mendelsohn Maneuver
Swallow normally. Feel the larynx (i.e. voice box, Adam’s apple) lift during the swallow.
On the next swallow, feel the larynx elevating and hold it up with your neck muscles. Do not try to lift the larynx early. Let the larynx lift normally and then hold it up so that it does not drop for ____ seconds.
Do this with saliva/food swallows
- Falsetto
Make a loud, high pitched “eee” sound.
Hold out the sound for as long as you can.
- Shaker Exercises
Both exercises should be completed while lying flat. Do not use a pillow. Make sure your shoulders remain on the floor/bed throughout the exercise.
- First part
Flex your neck by attempting to touch your chin to your chest, and look at your toes. Your mouth should remain closed with a relaxed jaw. Attempt to hold this position for one minute. Do this exercise three times total in one setting, resting one minute between each exercise.
- Second part
Do repetitions of the previous exercise, without holding the position. Flex your neck and touch your chin to your chest 30 times in a row.
Base of tongue and pharyngeal constriction
- Hard/effortful swallow
Swallow food/saliva normally but squeeze very hard with your tongue and throat muscles throughout the swallow. Excess effort should be clearly visible in your neck during the swallow.
- Gargle
Gargle water/saliva for ____ seconds. Gradually increase duration of gargling time.
- Yawn
Open your mouth wide and start to yawn (exaggerate your yawn). You will feel all the muscles open wide in your throat.
- Tongue base retraction
Pull the back of your tongue as far back as you can. Pretend you are trying to scratch the back wall of your throat with the back of your tongue. Hold for ____ seconds.
- Hard k/g
Say the word “kick” with emphasis on the /k/ sound. Say the word “go” with emphasis on the /g/ sound.
- Tongue hold and swallow
Hold your tongue gently between your teeth and swallow. Be sure you can still see the tip of your tongue during the swallow (a mirror is helpful). To make this exercise more challenging, stick your tongue further out and swallow.
Tongue Exercises
- Tongue Movement (forward/back)
Stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold for ___ seconds.
Try to keep your tongue in the middle. You can use a mirror if it helps
Pull your tongue back as far as you can and hold for ____ seconds.
- Tongue Movement (side-to-side)
Put the tip of your tongue in your right cheek as far back as you can and hold it there.
Repeat with the tongue tip into the left cheek.
Smile. Put the tip of your tongue in the corner of your lips on the right, then move it to the left.
- Tongue Movement (circulate)
Stick your tongue out as far as you can and lick your lips in a circular motion.
- Tongue Elevation
Push whole tongue against roof of mouth as hard as you can.
Hold for ____ seconds.
- Tongue protrusion against resistance
Stick your tongue out as far as you can and push against a tongue depressor or spoon.
Hold for ____ seconds.
- Tongue lateralization against resistance
Stick your tongue out as far as you can.
Place a tongue depressor or spoon along the side of the tongue and push against it with your tongue.
Hold for ____ seconds.
Lip Closure
- Purse your lips and protrude as far forward as possible and hold for ____seconds.
- Pull your lips back into a wide smile and hold for ____ seconds.
- Smack your lips forcefully.
References
Logemann, J. (1998). Evaluation and Treatment of swallowing Disorders. Austin, TX: Pro-ED. Second Edition.
Logemann, J.A., Pauloski, B.R., Rademaker, A.W., & Colangello, L. (1997). Speech and swallowing rehabilitation in head and neck cancer patient. Oncology, 11(5), 651-656, 659.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 07/22/2011
Copyright © 11/10/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7114
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