What are larynx-lifting exercises?
Larynx-lifting exercises are done to help improve swallowing. They are a character of treatment when you have perturb swallow ( dysphagia ). The exercises may help you increase the force and mobility of the muscles of your larynx ( voice box ) over time. This may help the ability to swallow. These exercises are sometimes used with other types of swallow exercises .
Before you swallow, you chew your food to a size, shape, and texture that can be swallowed. When you swallow this material, it passes through your mouth and down through parts of your throat called the throat and larynx. From here, the food or liquid passes through a long tube ( esophagus ) before entering your abdomen. This apparent motion requires a series of actions from the muscles in these areas .
When you breathe, air passes through your throat and larynx, besides. It then travels down through a farseeing pipe ( trachea ) before it reaches your lungs. There is a small piece of tissue called the epiglottis that acts like a flap and covers your trachea when you swallow food or drink. This is so food and fluids do not go into your trachea and lungs .
Muscle failing in these areas can make proper swallowing difficult. A speech-language diagnostician ( SLP ) may prescribe specific swallowing exercises to improve your immerse. Swallowing exercises can give increase strength, mobility, and see to these muscles. Over clock, this may help you to swallow normally again.
Why might I need larynx-lifting exercises?
You might need to use larynx-lifting exercises if you have dysphagia. Dysphagia can lead to food or fluent going into the airways or lungs ( inhalation ). This can lead to pneumonia and early problems. Because of this, it ’ sulfur authoritative to promptly identify and treat your dysphagia if you have it .
aesculapian conditions can lead to dysphagia. Some examples are :
- Stroke
- Severe dental problems
- Mouth lesions
- Conditions that reduce saliva such as Sjögren syndrome
- Parkinson disease or other nervous system conditions
- Muscular dystrophies
- Blockage in the esophagus such as from a tumor
- History of radiation, chemotherapy, or both to the neck or throat for cancer
An SLP may be more likely to prescribe larynx-lifting exercises if he or she thinks you are having reduced laryngeal gesture that is causing you trouble with the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. For model, this might happen from happen from neck cancer or after a stroke .
What are the risks of larynx-lifting exercises?
Larynx-lifting exercises are very dependable. If you have any discomfort during the exercises, you can stop doing them. Let your doctor or therapist know right aside. Don ’ t practice these exercises unless person from your medical team prescribes them to you .
How do I get ready for larynx-lifting exercises?
Before you start your larynx-lifting exercises, you may need to change your body position. Your SLP will give you instructions on how to do this, if needed. For model, it may be better to do these exercises while out of bed .
It is besides helpful to remove distractions from your environment. Turn off the television, and do them at a time when you won ’ thyroxine have visitors. This will let you focus on your exercises and get the most benefit from them. You can do these exercises at any fourth dimension that is commodious for you. Your SLP will let you know if there is anything else you need to do before getting started .
What happens during larynx-lifting exercises?
The exercises will depend on the claim nature of your swallow problem. For case, you may have a trouble with the second phase of swallowing. This is when the food material is in your throat. If so, you may benefit from working the muscles in your larynx. Larynx-lifting exercises may help you keep your food moving normally down through the throat and into the esophagus. If you have a trouble with other stages of swallowing, your SLP might give you different swallowing exercises .
You can do these exercises in your hospital room or at home. Often you can do them on your own, but you may besides work with a health master to practice these exercises.
Your SLP can show you the exercises you should do and explain how much to do them. For exemplar, you may be asked to :
- Mendelsohn maneuver. Start to swallow. Use your throat muscles to stop your Adam’s apple at its highest point for a couple of seconds. At first, it may help you to use fingers to help keep it up, until you understand the movement that is involved. Then finish the swallow by allowing your Adam’s apple to return to a resting position.
- Falsetto exercise. Use your voice to slide up the pitch scale as high as you can, to a high, squeaky voice. Hold the high note for several seconds with as much strength as possible. While you do this, you can gently pull up on your Adam’s apple.
Both of these exercises help lift the larynx, which may improve your swallow .
Your SLP can tell you how to do each use and how often you should practice it. In many cases you ’ ll need to practice your exercises several times a day for the most benefit .
You will probable be doing larynx-lifting exercises along with other types of swallow exercises. If so, do these in the lapp order each fourth dimension. This will help make sure you don ’ triiodothyronine forget any exercises .
What happens after larynx-lifting exercises?
You can go back to your normal activities right after you finish practicing your larynx-lifting and early exercises .
As separate of your discussion plan, your doctor of the church and SLP may prescribe early treatments. These may include changes to your diet, changes in eating military position, medicines, or operating room .
It ’ s a well estimate to keep a criminal record every clock time you do your immerse exercises. This serves as a admonisher to you to do your exercises as appointed. It besides provides helpful feedback on your progress to your SLP. Make a note of what exercises you performed and when you did them. besides note any problems, so you can discuss them with your SLP .
Your SLP and checkup team may modify your exercises as they watch your advance over prison term. You may have bedside swallowing exams. And you may have imaging tests, such as a fiber-optic evaluation of swallowing ( FEES ) test. It may take a few weeks to notice an improvement in your swallow.
As your ability to swallow improves, your risk for inhalation will decrease. Your SLP may be able to change your diet and allow you to eat certain types of food again. This can improve your nutrition, your overall health, and your choice of life. You may still have problems with swallowing even after practicing these exercises regularly. Your SLP will tell you what kind of progress to expect .
continue to practice all of your swallowing exercises as prescribed by your SLP. You will benefit most from following the therapy precisely as prescribed. Your progress may be less if you skip practice sessions. Work closely with all the members of your healthcare team. This will help your gamble of a having adept consequence .
Next steps
Before you agree to the test or the routine make sure you know :
- The name of the test or procedure
- The reason you are having the test or procedure
- What results to expect and what they mean
- The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
- What the possible side effects or complications are
- When and where you are to have the test or procedure
- Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are
- What would happen if you did not have the test or procedure
- Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
- When and how will you get the results
- Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems
- How much will you have to pay for the test or procedure
