Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) - Behavioral Intervention

This program consists of daily proactive pharyngeal-laryngeal exercises and weekly sessions with a speech-language pathologist post surgery. One week prior to surgery participants will begin daily proactive pharyngeal-laryngeal exercises and continue these daily exercises for 6 weeks post surgery. Beginning approximately one week after surgery, participants will meet with the speech-language pathologist. Sessions will occur weekly, for approximately 6 weeks, and will last approximately 45 minutes.

Premier Protein Clear ® High Protein (20 grams of protein and 90 calories per 16.9 oz. drink) 1 drink daily for 7 weeks.

Daily hydration goals are based on recommended guidelines for adults, by gender, from The United States National Academy of Medicine (US NAM) and the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) (\~2.0 L/day for women; \~2.5 L/day for men of fluid intake, accounting for 20% daily fluid intake from food sources). Patients will be required to track via paper log whether they met their hydration goals daily.