Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the jaw-opening exercise on decreased
upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening while swallowing. DESIGN: Intervention
study: before-after trial with
4-week follow-up evaluation. SETTING: A university
school of dentistry dental hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with dysphagia (N=8;
7 men, 1 woman; average age +/- SD, 70.5+/-11.3y; age range, 54-86y).
INTERVENTIONS: All patients performed a jaw-opening exercise to strengthen the
suprahyoid muscles. The exercise involved opening the jaw to its maximum and
maintaining this position for 10 seconds. Each exercise set consisted of 5
repetitions, and 2 sets were carried out daily for 4 weeks.
The effectiveness of
the exercise was evaluated by a videofluorographic swallowing study (VFSS). MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Hyoid elevation, UES opening, pharynx passage time, and
pharyngeal residue after swallowing at preexercise and postexercise were compared
by VFSS. RESULTS: Compared with before starting the exercise, significant
improvements were observed in the extent of upward movement of the hyoid bone
(P<.05), the amount of UES opening (P<.05), and the time for pharynx passage
(P<.05) 4 weeks after initiating the exercise. Pharyngeal residue decreased in
some subjects, and no increases were noted in any subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The jaw-opening exercise is an effective treatment for dysphagia caused by
dysfunction of hyoid elevation and UES opening.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS