,K-K-K’-EXERCISE

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

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This exercise is ranks among the BACK-OF-MOUTH-EXERCISES being summarized in chapter REAR ORAL CAVITY.

It is brought into action for a deficient sound formation of ‘G’ and ‘K’, for a deficient regulation of the upper airway region ( as mouth breathing, see also chapter MOUTHBREATHING , snoring, sleep-apnoea or choking), an incapability to gurgle or disorders in the swallow reflex. The exercise concentrates on the target area velum and pharynx musculature and is aimed at strengthening and mobilising of the velum (Anatomy: Area II und III, page 21/23).

Contents:

A kinetic exercise with a sound forming component. The fast and alternately closing and opening of the airways of nose and mouth effects the mobility and motility as well as the tactile kinaesthesia in the pharyngeal space.

Materials:

Not required.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: In case of respiratory tract problems and the aforesaid difficulties a pre-exercise may be omitted. Troubles with the swallow reflex require the successful conclusion of the WORDEXERCISES for all tongue thirds, the exercises SQUEEZE-A-FLAKE and ELEVATOR may be applied previously.

-Starting position: ,L’-POSITION.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 The mouth is opened slightly, the tongue tip levitates just below the POINT

-2 Now an inspiration is performed through the nose followed by

-3 the ejection of the breathing air through the mouth wit a clearly audible ‘K’. At this the patient will concentrate expressively on feeling out the contact ‘backwards’ between velum and tongue (tactile kinaesthesia).

-Timing: Regarding the shortness of the carry-out it would seem appropriate to fill a sequence wit a frequency beat where step 2 and 3 are representing one tact requiring about one second.

The sequence may, then, be filled with about fifteen beats; the number being raised gradually.

As an ALTERNATIVE EXERCISE for this kinetic measure the mentioned SQUEEZE-A-FLAKE fills in as a static exercise.

Characteristics:

Kinetic, gross motor, mobility, motility, tactile kinaesthesia, partial reflex.

Remarks:

It should be paid special attention to the air stream fluctuation between inhaling solely through the nose   and exhaling ‘K’ respectively through the mouth will be attentively observed.

Discussion:

Through the continuous and consciously monitored alternating muscle action of the musculature of tongue base, pharynx and velum (see Anatomy, above) the stamina capability of the target muscles will be increased causing an improvement of the working tone and the neuromotoric controls.

As a consecutive exercise the GURGLE may be prescribed and for the tongue muscles the THREE-RING-EXERCISE.

The exercise SNORKEL will be quite useful as a pre-exercise.

Instructions:

Now we are going to train the backwards, soft part of the palate, the velum, back there where the junction between mouth and nose can be tilted open and shut.

For that you breathe in very briskly through the nose and eject the whole air soon afterwards with a ‘K’-sound out through the mouth.

Followed by a short inspiration through the nose and – ‘K’ – out through the mouth. With this you should feel very clearly how, back in the throat, the back end of the tongue is nudging against the palate. Inhale through the nose, exhale trough the mouth, in – nose, out - mouth. And on you go counting “one and two and three and four. In total fifteen times or as often, as we agreed upon. Subsequently you may have a recreation break with some other exercise or just idling until starting anew.