TOUCH-THE-BUTTON

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

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This exercise encloses partial reflex step in the starting phase of the physiological swallow reflex (see in this context also chapter SWALLOW-MECHANISM). With the insertion of this exercise in a case of a disturbed swallow reflex its reconstruction in the initial phase is aspired; see also Chapter ,1-2-3'-EXERCISE under B1.

Contents:

Catchphrase in the swallow reflex training.

Intermittent creating and reducing of tension in the levator musculature for the tongue tip with an isometric, statodynamic exercise for triggering of the involuntary reflex cycle. Sensing the FEEDBACK stimulus.

Materials:

Not required.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: As pre-exercise the methods for an orientation of the tongue tip at the POINT, for strengthening the (mainly extrinsic) tongue musculature and for the tongue tip mobility should have been concluded (see also notes in “Discussion”).

-Starting position: Tongue tip at the POINT.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 Primarily there will be held a precise instruction about the starting of the swallow reflex (see “Discussion”).

-2 The tongue tip presses with maximum strength against the POINT – The “Button” – and

-3 loosens immediately afterwards.

-4 Directly to step -1 and so on. In continuous repetitions strain, loosen, strain etc.

-Timing: The “strain-and-loosen” takes one second which forms a work-out beat in a second-frequency, the training sequence is tacted. The tacts or beats are counted up; their number results in the extent of the sequence. This may be raised in the course of the training for example from ten on upwards.

In a more progressive phase of the training each TOUCH-THE-BUTTON may be followed by swallowing.

Characteristics:

Sensitivity, stereognosis, tactile kinaesthetic, orientation, feed-back, function-kinetic partial reflex, gross motor skill, statodynamic.

Remarks:

Monitor the precise location of the tongue tip in the start phase (POINT) and molars in a slight occlusion, in certain cases to be avoided totally by the TONGUEPROP.

Discussion:

This exercise may also be integrated in the training just to, solely, practice the tongue elevators. For this purpose more valuable might be the SPATULA PRESSING which represents a solely muscular exercise. As well this procedure may be utilized in the course of the TONGUE-TIP-ORIENTATION.

Favourable it might be to stress the sensory contents of the exercise as with the association:

“This button will be pressed as a trigger on an engine. With it the motion is put to work – the swallowing”.

In this connection it is rational to link this exercise together with complementary measures into one training course as for example described in the,1-2-3'-EXERCISE .

The name of the exercise should be introduced as a catchword to characterize an important step in the course of the swallow reflex as to make it available as a coordinated muscle action.

Instructions:

The tongue has been taught (or did it already know?) how to move. Now we will begin to expect it to master real tasks which it will have to accomplish every day.

Here, now, the swallowing procedure is asked for.

As on every appliance there is also a button in the mouth with which the thing can be started and switched on.

The button to switch on the swallowing is the POINT.

The tongue goes to the point and pushes on it with its tip, the molar teeth get laid upon each other and the swallow goes off.

At first you should only practice to push the button: A short push another short push and again and again. Press, let go, and 1 and 2 and 3 and so on up to the prescribed number.

When you have mastered this you may additionally switch on the swallowing.

The tongue will all the time keep sitting firmly on its POINT.

Better take a gulp of water in between but not every time! Mostly the mouth will only do idle swallowing.

Repeat the exercise at least ten times or as often, as we agreed.