DRIVING SEAT

Myofunktional Exercise  Collection

Application:

This exercise represents rather a motivation help than a muscle function exercise. It is more a “story” for patients in an age granting an understanding for the tasks of our body. It serves as background information and is used in all those cases in which the tongue posture is incompetent. (Anatomy: 1.2, Area II, Page 18)

Contents:

Motivation help for the correct placing of the first tongue third by readily comprehensible information about the physiological significance of the tongue posture.

Materials:

Not required, possibly illustrated charts or models, in demonstrations hand-mirror, else exercise specific. The patient gets an explanation about the slogan DRIVERS SEAT; for synonyms see paragraph “Discussion”.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises:

Not required, PROVE-THE-POINT recommendable.

-Starting position: Not necessary, in demonstrations recommendable the SITTING-POSITION and ,CHIN-IN’.

:

- Step-by-step-Description:

-1 The patient will get a vivid description possibly with the help of a hand mirror looking at the own mouth or with demonstration illustrations about the function of the tongue especially with the correct position of its tip. This should perhaps be carried out in a way the “Instructions” (see below) are formulated. Favourably the patient may, later on,  draw a picture about this topic ( for example a SWALLOWPICTUR):

- Timing:

This exercise fits into the starting phase of the general therapy course and may be used for starting motivation. Important viewpoints can be repeated later on in conversation.

Characteristics:

Motivation for a change of state, information, orientation, myobalance

Remarks:

It is obvious to regard the level of understanding of the patient. The contents and its comprehension are basic construction elements for the oral myofunctional therapy.

Discussion:

The idiom DRIVING SEAT is probably well known to all patients as a place from where an engine, the car or a bucket excavator ( see “Zungenkämpfer”) is controlled. As a synonym may be used control stand or operators post. In the end you should agree with the patient to call this special site in the mouth the POINT.

For the work-out of the second and third third of the tongue it is obvious to create a back for the seat at which the tongues back finds a firm hold.

A similar exercise, the TONGUE STORY in as much, as the latter can be used rather in younger age level. It is addressing more the troubled appearance of the patient and thus the negative impression on other people.