Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can make eating and drinking challenging, but the right exercises can help. Whether your swallowing issues stem from a neurological condition, injury, or aging, targeted exercises can strengthen the muscles involved and improve function over time.
In this guide, we will walk you through effective swallowing exercises for dysphagia, explaining how they work and how to integrate them into your daily routine for the best results.
Understanding Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)
Swallowing is a complex process that involves the mouth, throat, and esophagus working in harmony. When any part of this system weakens or loses coordination, it can lead to dysphagia. Swallowing exercises can complement other speech and language therapy treatments by strengthening muscles and improving coordination.
Let’s explore some effective exercises that can help restore swallowing function.
How Swallowing Exercises May Help With Dysphagia
Dysphagia, which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing, may involve incoordination and weakness of the muscles used for swallowing. While this may be purely an issue of impaired motor function, dysphagia after a neurological injury often occurs due to a disruption in communication between the brain and the muscles involved in swallowing.
The goal of swallowing exercises after a neurological injury is to improve communication between the brain and the muscles, targeting the muscles in the tongue, throat, and esophagus to:
- Improve muscle strength and coordination
- Increase control over food and liquid movement
- Improve communication between the brain and the muscles used for swallowing
- Reduce the risk of choking and aspiration
- Enhance overall swallowing efficiency and safety
Repetitive practice activates neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Therefore, practicing these exercises on a regular basis can help build new pathways in the brain, allowing the brain to communicate with the muscles more effectively.
Before starting any new exercise, you should consult your doctor or speech-language pathologist (SLP) to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for your condition.
Let’s take a look at our top 12 recommended swallowing exercises for dysphagia.
Effective Swallowing Exercises for Dysphagia
1. Shaker Exercise (Head Lift)
If you struggle with swallowing due to weakened muscles in your throat, the Shaker exercise is a great way to build strength and improve control. This movement strengthens the suprahyoid muscles, which play a critical role in lifting the larynx and opening the esophagus for easier swallowing.
How to do it:
- Lie flat on your back with your arms relaxed at your sides.
- Keep your shoulders on the ground and lift your head, bringing your chin toward your chest while looking at your toes.
- Hold this position for 30 seconds, then slowly lower your head and relax.
- Repeat three times.
- Follow this with 30 quick head lifts without holding the position.
With consistent practice, this exercise helps improve muscle control, making it easier to move food from the mouth to the throat without discomfort.
2. Effortful Swallow
If food tends to stick in your throat or you feel like you’re not fully clearing a bite when you swallow, the effortful swallow can help. This technique increases the force of your swallow by engaging more throat and tongue muscles, making food passage more efficient.
How to do it:
- Take a sip of water or saliva.
- Pretend you’re trying to push the liquid down with as much strength as possible.
- Imagine squeezing all the muscles in your mouth and throat tightly as you swallow.
- Repeat 10 times.
Practicing this exercise can help improve the strength and efficiency of your swallowing muscles, reducing the risk of food residue being left behind in your throat.
3. Mendelsohn Maneuver
A well-coordinated swallow requires the larynx to rise and stay elevated momentarily. If yours doesn’t rise enough or you experience frequent choking, the Mendelsohn maneuver can help strengthen the muscles responsible for this movement.
How to do it:
- Swallow normally and pay attention to the moment your Adam’s apple (or larynx) rises.
- The next time you swallow, gently hold your Adam’s apple in its highest position for two seconds before relaxing.
- Repeat 10 times.
By training your muscles to hold this position, you enhance swallowing coordination and allow food to pass through the throat more effectively.
4. Masako Maneuver (Tongue Hold Exercise)
If you feel like your throat muscles are weak or uncoordinated, the Masako Maneuver can strengthen them and improve the swallow reflex. This technique forces the back of the throat to work harder by limiting tongue movement.
How to do it:
- Stick out your tongue slightly and hold it gently between your teeth.
- Attempt to swallow while keeping your tongue in place.
- Repeat 10 times.
At first, this exercise might feel unusual, but over time, it enhances throat muscle function and swallowing efficiency.
5. Supraglottic Swallow
If you often cough or choke while eating or drinking, it may be because your airway isn’t fully closing during swallowing. This exercise trains you to protect your airway while swallowing, preventing food and liquids from entering your lungs.
How to do it:
- Take a deep breath and hold it tightly.
- Swallow while keeping your breath held.
- Immediately cough to clear any remaining liquid or food from your airway.
- Repeat 10 times.
With regular practice, this technique improves airway closure, reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
6. Tongue Press
Your tongue plays a crucial role in moving food efficiently down your throat. If you struggle with weak tongue control, this exercise helps strengthen the tongue for better bolus control.
How to do it:
- Press the tip of your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth.
- Hold for five seconds, then relax.
- Repeat 10 times.
7. Chin Tuck Against Resistance
If you have difficulty getting food down smoothly, this exercise helps strengthen the muscles that assist in guiding food safely into the esophagus.
How to do it:
- Place a small rubber ball, rolled-up towel, or resistance object under your chin.
- Press your chin downward against the object, holding for five seconds.
- Relax and repeat 10 times.
8. Jaw Opening Exercise
This exercise strengthens the muscles that control jaw and throat movement, improving swallowing mechanics.
How to do it:
- Open your mouth as wide as possible without pain.
- Hold for five seconds, then slowly close.
- Repeat 10 times.
9. Gargling Exercise
Gargling helps activate the muscles in your throat that are essential for a strong and coordinated swallow.
How to do it:
- Take a sip of water.
- Tilt your head back and gargle for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
10. Blow Bottle or Straw Exercise
Breath control is crucial for safe swallowing. This exercise helps coordinate breathing and swallowing to prevent aspiration.
How to do it:
- Take a deep breath and blow through a straw into a glass of water.
- Try to make consistent bubbles without stopping.
- Repeat for 1-2 minutes.
11. Yawn Exercise
This exercise helps to stretch the swallowing muscles and strengthen the base of the tongue.
How to do it:
- Place the tongue toward the back of the mouth.
- Pretend to yawn, holding the tongue toward the back of your mouth for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
12. Neck Isometric Exercise
Strengthening your neck muscles can support better swallowing mechanics.
How to do it:
- Place your palm against your forehead.
- Push your head forward while resisting with your hand for five seconds.
- Repeat with your palm on the back of your head.
- Perform 10 repetitions in each direction.
These exercises provide a great starting point for improving dysphagia. However, it can be very beneficial to consult a speech language pathologist for recommendations specific to your condition. Speech therapists may also use other techniques, such as electrical stimulation, to enhance your results.
If you’re having significant swallowing difficulties, consult your doctor to see if further evaluation would be appropriate. It may be necessary to modify your diet, eating softer foods temporarily as you work toward regaining the ability to swallow effectively.
Swallowing Exercises for Dysphagia – Final Thoughts
Swallowing difficulties can impact many aspects of daily life, from enjoying meals to staying properly nourished. However, by practicing targeted exercises, you can rebuild strength, coordination, and confidence in your swallowing ability. These techniques, combined with professional guidance, offer a proactive way to enhance your swallowing function over time.
Patience and consistency are key. Progress may be gradual, but even small improvements can lead to significant gains in comfort and safety. Keep working at it, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a speech-language pathologist to personalize your approach.
