The Effect of Prophylactic Swallowing Exercises on Head and Neck Cancer Patients

"Swallowing Exercises~Perform each exercise 10 times. Do these 3 times a day. Vary the order of the exercises.~Effortful Swallow: As you swallow squeeze hard with all your muscles. (Can do with water or without)~Super Supraglottic Swallow:~Inhale and hold your breath very tightly, bearing down. Keep holding your breath and bearing down as you swallow. Cough when you are finished. (Can do with water or without)~Tongue Hold Maneuver:~Gently hold your tongue in between your front teeth and swallow your saliva.~Tongue Retraction:~Pull the back of your tongue to the back of your mouth and hold.~Mendelsohn Maneuver:~Swallow your saliva and pay attention to your neck as you swallow. Try to feel that something (your Adam's apple of voice box) lifts and lowers as you swallow. Now, when you swallow and you feel something lift as you swallow don't let it drop. Hold it with your muscles for several seconds."