Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors

Sophie A. C. Kraaijenga; Lisette van der Molen; Martijn M. Stuiver; Robert P. Takes; Abrahim Al-Mamgani; Michiel W. M. van den Brekel; Frans J. M. Hilgers

doi:10.1002/hed.24710

Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors

Sophie A. C. Kraaijenga, Lisette van der Molen, Martijn M. Stuiver, Robert P. Takes, Abrahim Al-Mamgani, Michiel W. M. van den Brekel^*, Frans J. M. Hilgers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: The efficacy of rehabilitative exercises for chronic dysphagia treatment in head and neck cancer survivors has not been studied extensively and is ambiguous.

Methods: A prospective clinical phase II study using an intensive strength training program was carried out in 17 head and neck cancer survivors with chronic dysphagia. Both swallow and nonswallow exercises were performed for 6-8 weeks with a newly developed tool allowing for progressive muscle overload, including chin tuck, jaw opening, and effortful swallow exercises. Outcome parameters were feasibility, compliance, and parameters for effect.

Results: Feasibility in terms of the program completion rate was 88%. Compliance with the exercises was 97%. After the training period, chin tuck, jaw opening, and anterior tongue strength had substantially improved. All but 1 patient reported to benefit from the exercises.

Conclusion: Feasibility and compliance were high. Some objective and subjective effects of progressive load on muscle strength and swallowing function could be demonstrated.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1943-1961
Number of pages	19
Journal	Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck
Volume	39
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.24710
Publication status	Published - Oct 2017

Keywords

chin tuck
dysphagia
head and neck cancer
jaw opening
radiotherapy
rehabilitation
strength training
UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER
RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL
LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD
SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
NEURAL PLASTICITY
LINGUAL EXERCISE
RESISTANCE CTAR
MUSCLE-ACTIVITY
OLDER-ADULTS
CHIN TUCK

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10.1002/hed.24710

Cite this

Kraaijenga, S. A. C., van der Molen, L., Stuiver, M. M., Takes, R. P., Al-Mamgani, A., van den Brekel, M. W. M., & Hilgers, F. J. M. (2017). Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors. Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck, 39(10), 1943-1961. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.24710

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title = "Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors",

abstract = "Background: The efficacy of rehabilitative exercises for chronic dysphagia treatment in head and neck cancer survivors has not been studied extensively and is ambiguous.Methods: A prospective clinical phase II study using an intensive strength training program was carried out in 17 head and neck cancer survivors with chronic dysphagia. Both swallow and nonswallow exercises were performed for 6-8 weeks with a newly developed tool allowing for progressive muscle overload, including chin tuck, jaw opening, and effortful swallow exercises. Outcome parameters were feasibility, compliance, and parameters for effect.Results: Feasibility in terms of the program completion rate was 88%. Compliance with the exercises was 97%. After the training period, chin tuck, jaw opening, and anterior tongue strength had substantially improved. All but 1 patient reported to benefit from the exercises.Conclusion: Feasibility and compliance were high. Some objective and subjective effects of progressive load on muscle strength and swallowing function could be demonstrated.",

keywords = "chin tuck, dysphagia, head and neck cancer, jaw opening, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, strength training, UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER, RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL, LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD, SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY, NEURAL PLASTICITY, LINGUAL EXERCISE, RESISTANCE CTAR, MUSCLE-ACTIVITY, OLDER-ADULTS, CHIN TUCK",

author = "Kraaijenga, {Sophie A. C.} and {van der Molen}, Lisette and Stuiver, {Martijn M.} and Takes, {Robert P.} and Abrahim Al-Mamgani and {van den Brekel}, {Michiel W. M.} and Hilgers, {Frans J. M.}",

year = "2017",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1002/hed.24710",

language = "English",

volume = "39",

pages = "1943--1961",

journal = "Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck",

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number = "10",

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Kraaijenga, SAC, van der Molen, L, Stuiver, MM, Takes, RP, Al-Mamgani, A, van den Brekel, MWM & Hilgers, FJM 2017, 'Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors', Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck, vol. 39, no. 10, pp. 1943-1961. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.24710

Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors. / Kraaijenga, Sophie A. C.; van der Molen, Lisette; Stuiver, Martijn M. et al.
In: Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck, Vol. 39, No. 10, 10.2017, p. 1943-1961.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficacy of a novel swallowing exercise program for chronic dysphagia in long-term head and neck cancer survivors

AU - Kraaijenga, Sophie A. C.

AU - van der Molen, Lisette

AU - Stuiver, Martijn M.

AU - Takes, Robert P.

AU - Al-Mamgani, Abrahim

AU - van den Brekel, Michiel W. M.

AU - Hilgers, Frans J. M.

PY - 2017/10

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N2 - Background: The efficacy of rehabilitative exercises for chronic dysphagia treatment in head and neck cancer survivors has not been studied extensively and is ambiguous.Methods: A prospective clinical phase II study using an intensive strength training program was carried out in 17 head and neck cancer survivors with chronic dysphagia. Both swallow and nonswallow exercises were performed for 6-8 weeks with a newly developed tool allowing for progressive muscle overload, including chin tuck, jaw opening, and effortful swallow exercises. Outcome parameters were feasibility, compliance, and parameters for effect.Results: Feasibility in terms of the program completion rate was 88%. Compliance with the exercises was 97%. After the training period, chin tuck, jaw opening, and anterior tongue strength had substantially improved. All but 1 patient reported to benefit from the exercises.Conclusion: Feasibility and compliance were high. Some objective and subjective effects of progressive load on muscle strength and swallowing function could be demonstrated.

AB - Background: The efficacy of rehabilitative exercises for chronic dysphagia treatment in head and neck cancer survivors has not been studied extensively and is ambiguous.Methods: A prospective clinical phase II study using an intensive strength training program was carried out in 17 head and neck cancer survivors with chronic dysphagia. Both swallow and nonswallow exercises were performed for 6-8 weeks with a newly developed tool allowing for progressive muscle overload, including chin tuck, jaw opening, and effortful swallow exercises. Outcome parameters were feasibility, compliance, and parameters for effect.Results: Feasibility in terms of the program completion rate was 88%. Compliance with the exercises was 97%. After the training period, chin tuck, jaw opening, and anterior tongue strength had substantially improved. All but 1 patient reported to benefit from the exercises.Conclusion: Feasibility and compliance were high. Some objective and subjective effects of progressive load on muscle strength and swallowing function could be demonstrated.

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KW - RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL

KW - LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD

KW - SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY

KW - NEURAL PLASTICITY

KW - LINGUAL EXERCISE

KW - RESISTANCE CTAR

KW - MUSCLE-ACTIVITY

KW - OLDER-ADULTS

KW - CHIN TUCK

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DO - 10.1002/hed.24710

M3 - Article

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SN - 1043-3074

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JO - Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck

JF - Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck

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