Category: Management
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Measuring Outcomes for Success…..What are You Using?
The Dysphagia Toolbox offers valuable tools for dysphagia assessment and treatment. Various free outcome measures like questionnaires and screening tools support clinicians in evaluating patients effectively. These assessments track progress and ensure reliable evaluations, which are essential for optimal dysphagia management and documentation in compliance with healthcare standards.
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Oral Care
Oral care is crucial in managing dysphagia and preventing aspiration pneumonia. It involves maintaining oral hygiene to reduce harmful bacteria. Various factors contribute to aspiration pneumonia, including health status and oral care quality. Tools like the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) help evaluate oral health and promote effective care practices.
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Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST) and Dysphagia
RMST has strong implications for dysphagia treatment, is surprisingly easy to implement, and (bonus!) is pretty affordable. Whether you’re working in acute care, SNFs, or home health, this is something you’ll want to have in your clinical back pocket. What is RMST? RMST involves strengthening the muscles responsible for inspiration and expiration. There are two…
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Exercise in Dysphagia Therapy: Let’s Get Functional
Recent—and not-so-recent—dysphagia literature has made one thing very clear: exercise physiology belongs in swallowing rehab. Researchers like Lazarus, Robbins, Burkhead, and Clark have emphasized that understanding the muscles involved in swallowing—and how they actually function—is key to designing exercises that work. Spoiler alert: just having someone swallow applesauce with a side of hope isn’t enough.…
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Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR): A Powerhouse Exercise for Suprahyoid Strengthening
Discover how the Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) exercise supports swallowing rehabilitation, strengthens the suprahyoid muscles, and offers a more accessible alternative to the Shaker exercise.
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Pudding with a Straw: A Functional Swallowing Exercise with Real Resistance
Looking for a simple but effective exercise to strengthen the entire swallowing mechanism using resistance? So was I. Over the years, I’ve tried many different exercises with my patients. One of my go-to favorites—though it earns me a few side-eyes from coworkers—is an unusual yet highly effective technique I call: Pudding with a Straw Yes,…
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Swallowing Without a Tongue: Let’s Talk Glossectomy
I’ve worked with a number of patients over the years who’ve had partial glossectomies—but recently, I’ve had two patients with total glossectomies. Let that sink in for a second. Total glossectomy. As in, no tongue. It sounds like a nearly impossible task: getting someone to eat or drink again when one of the primary driving…
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Pharyngocise
Patients with head and neck cancer must engage in early swallowing function preservation, ideally before treatment begins. A study demonstrated that the “Pharyngocise” approach provided better outcomes in muscle preservation and swallowing function compared to usual care. Consistent engagement in exercise during treatment can significantly benefit recovery post-therapy.
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Not Nectar Thick: The Truth About Carbonated Beverages and Dysphagia
Carbonated beverages are being explored in dysphagia management as a sensory strategy to enhance swallowing safety, not as thickened liquids. Research indicates carbonation may stimulate the Trigeminal nerve, potentially improving swallow function for some patients. However, effectiveness varies individually, necessitating personalized assessment rather than substitution for thickened liquids.
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Compliance or Choice? Rethinking the “Noncompliant” Dysphagia Patient
The post discusses evolving perspectives on patient noncompliance in dysphagia management. It suggests reframing noncompliance as patient choice, emphasizing the importance of education and support rather than discharge. Highlighting that not all aspirators contract pneumonia, it advocates for individualized approaches in therapy that empower patients to make informed decisions about their care and safety.
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Dysphagia Ramblings 