Muscle Composition and Function for Swallowing in Head/Neck Cancer Patients

"Patient management by the attending Radiation oncologist as usual. Patients assigned to this condition received focused attention sessions during the total course of their CRT treatment from a Speech Language Pathologist, consisting of weekly phone calls to monitor their swallowing outcome during the radiotherapy period."

"Standardised sham or placebo swallowing therapy comprised a buccal extension maneuver (valchuff) and appropriate dietary modification, under the direction of the study speech pathologist, twice daily each week for the duration of the patient's total course of CRT treatment."

Standardized high intensity behavioral swallowing therapy (Pharyngocise) comprised a battery of direct isometric / isotonic exercises and appropriate dietary modification, under the direction of the study speech pathologist, twice daily for the duration of the patient's total course of their CRT treatment (up to a maximum of 6 weeks)