HOLD A STICK

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

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For the sensitization and back-upwards positioning of the tongue belly in case of elevator hypodynamia, short Frenum and swallow reflex problems  (Anatomy: Area II, Page 18 ).

Contents:

Manipulated partial reflex exercise with sensomotor self-control (feed-back).

Materials:

Drinking straw.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: It is recommendable to position this exercise within the overall therapy plan with the exercises for the middle tongue third, i.e. after having finished the training for the first third.

As a direct pre-exercise the m SLURP-AND-WALLOW may be installed.

-Starting position: Not specified.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 The drinking straw is held transversely in the mouth behind the canines between the teeth (mouth corners) without kinking it.

-2 Ad hoc a squirt of water may be given into the mouth; the tongue tip reaches out towards the POINT across the straw.

-3 Slurp, tongue tip stays at the POINT, lips open, swallow.

While reaching out the tongue underside will now try to avoid contact with the straw. This feeling of a contact tongue belly / straw should previously be sensitized with the aid of a bulbous probe (tapping on the belly at the very site where later on the contact is to be avoided).

-Timing: As the exercise is quite difficult one action should stand for one sequence. Up to five sequences may be added to one series.

The exercise may be carried out alternately with the SLURP-AND-WALLOW.

Characteristics:

Sensitization, Orientation, (partial) Reflex, Function motor, Kinetics, Manipulation.

Remarks:

As with all similar exercises where devices or materials are utilized here, too, a possible hyper) sensitivity should be taken into account. In the special case in a settling-in period a short-term holding of the material in the mouth should be prefixed.

Discussion:

As in this exercise it should be avoided to kink the straw this method is properly practicable for the sensitization of the adductor muscles of the Mandibula in cases of hypertonia (grinders etc.).

Especially applicable is this measure for patients with the tendency to let the tongue belly hang down or to protrude it, where as the swallow reflex will not be running in a physiologic way.

For an increase of the exercise challenges additionally an ELASTIC may be held at the POINT.

The exercises HOLD-AND-PULL  and SUCK AND PULL  are pursuing the same purpose of a palate-ward orientation of the middle tongue part. The here discussed exercise is more over taking in account especially surface sensitivity of the tongue belly so these exercise may favourably be combined.

Instructions:

(How a dog carries a stick).

What is a dog doing if it shall retrieve a stick but not let drip saliva on the carpet?

We are now going to practice that.

However not as to, better, carry the stick as a dog but to get the tongue belly in a correct position.

Because it is not allowed to let itself sag.

The drinking straw goes  crosswise into the mouth as we have practiced

The tongue belly will not touch the straw when the tongue tip is reaching over the straw to get to the POINT. There the tip will stay.

And now slurp and swallow.

Stop!

Do not bite the straw in two!

It must not get a kink!