RAPID SWALLOW

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

no illustration

Exercise for an impairment in the fluent-evenly running deglutition reflex (paralysis of swallowing, odynophagia , pharyngeal discomfort, aerophagy, pneumophagy and the like), also in the final phase in MFT-training for the habituation of the swallow reflex.

Contents:

Intensified functional movement under attentive self control.

Materials:

A cup of water or the like.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: (Within the bounds of a correction of the swallow reflex all the detail steps of the reflex should have been taught; in this context also see especially the exercises for the TONGUE-TIP-ORIENTATION).

-Starting position: Take up the BASIC-POSITION and put the cup to your lips – the tongue tip at the POINT.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 Drinking proceeds in tiny sips and with utmost pace (swallow frequency) (see also paragraph “Discussion”). The patient will meanwhile carefully watch the (acquired) movements of his tongue. The tongue tip may nimbly “dance” on its POINT or go springy up and down, just so as bobbing about on an easy chair but should, “in principle”, keep its position.

-2 A break to inhale and

-3 next round, very tiny sips.

-Timing: As basic unit of a practicing phase a quarter of a minute should be regarded with about ten swallow processes, followed by a breathing break and the repetition. Recommendable for the frequency would be five to maximum ten repetitions to form a sequence. The calculation of the span of a sequence or its coupling-up for an integrated series will depend from the water intake capacity of the patient.

Characteristics:

Function-kinetic Refelxtraining, Anchoring / Habituation.

Remarks:

This exercise does only then make sense, if every detail step of the deglutition action is mastered. The carry-out does not depend on the quantum of water being swallowed, it should, in contrary, be kept to a minimum (the liquid only serves the moistening and triggering of the deglutition action).

Discussion:

Within the bounds of the MFT to correct the impaired swallow reflex this exercise finds its place in the last third of the general training course. It may be introduced in rehabilitation for gaining a more fluent motion sequence or for speeding up the swallow frequency. The success in raising the swallow frequency can be determined by comparing the number of muscle actions per 15 sec.

The basic action of this exercise can be seen in the short suction into the DIMPLE following the ‘ZIP’, the pressing down of the tongue tip as in the  TOUCH-THE-BUTTON and the stuff transportation over the tongue back towards the Fauces. This resembles the exercise CONTINUOUS SWALLOW which, however, does not advance under pressure of time. Therefore an  INCREASE-ARRANGEMENT may be put together by, for example, linking together the following exercises as sequences to form a series:

WATER CARRIER- LIQUID SWALLOW- CONTINUOUS SWALLOW (as well called ‘Drink Up, or ‘Drain’ in literature) - RAPID SWALLOW.

While in the first exercise of this series after the precise formation of the DIMPLE there will only happen one swallow, while in the  LIQUID SWALLOW there will be built up the ZIP under lip closure, with  CONTINUOUS SWALLOW the continuity of the repetition of the movement process will have a coordination fostering effect finally, in the exercise discussed here, under a time limit to a greater extent the unconscious automatic control will be “ground in”. A consecutive exercise would, then, have the task of a solid embodiment – at day and night time – into the subconscious as, for example with the BLANK SWALLOW which is practiced and described in the exercise  SUCKER  (see also paragraph “Discussion” in Chapter  CONTINUOUS SWALLOW).

Instructions:

The correct way to swallow right is well known now. We also have practiced to do it several times in a row.

Now we will get sporty!

You will have to swallow now as often as possible for a quarter of a minute. If it is getting up to ten it is quite well done already. To make it easier you may oil your throat with some liquid. Just take some water in gulp as little of it as possible. Someone will look at the watch; just a quarter of a minute and – break.

Repeat as often as agreed upon.