- 著者
- Kei Aoyama Kenjiro Kunieda Takashi Shigematsu Tomohisa Ohno Emiko Wada Ichiro Fujishima
- 出版者
- The Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine
- 雑誌
- Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine (ISSN:24321354)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.7, pp.20220058, 2022 (Released:2022-11-17)
- 参考文献数
- 11
Background: We previously reported that swallowing in the bridge position (bridge swallowing) strengthened esophageal contractions and increased the lower esophageal sphincter pressure against gravity. Furthermore, bridge swallowing exercise improved the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in subjects with GERD. Bridge swallowing may have the potential to strengthen esophageal peristalsis and improve GERD. In this case series, we evaluated the effect of bridge swallowing on GERD symptoms and esophageal residue observed by videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF) in patients with dysphagia after stroke.Cases: We reviewed the cases of five patients hospitalized with stroke and concurrent GERD symptoms. Dry swallowing exercises in the bridge (hip lift) position were performed ten times per day for 4 weeks. Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD (FSSG) questionnaire scores and esophageal residue on VF were compared before and after exercise. All patients completed the bridge swallowing exercise without adverse events and all showed improved FSSG scores after the exercise. Three patients showed improvements in esophageal residue on VF after exercise.Discussion: Our findings indicated that the bridge swallowing exercise can improve FSSG scores. Some patients showed improved esophageal residue on VF. This exercise was performed easily and safely without adverse events. Further studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of the bridge swallowing exercise in improving GERD.
- 著者
- Kei Aoyama Kenjiro Kunieda Takashi Shigematsu Tomohisa Ohno Emiko Wada Ichiro Fujishima
- 出版者
- The Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine
- 雑誌
- Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine (ISSN:24321354)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.7, pp.20220054, 2022 (Released:2022-10-08)
- 参考文献数
- 21
- 被引用文献数
- 1
Objectives: We previously reported that swallowing in the bridge position (bridge swallowing) increased distal esophageal contractions and lower esophageal sphincter pressure against gravity. Moreover, bridge swallowing had the potential to strengthen esophageal peristalsis. In this study, we sought to evaluate whether the bridge swallowing exercise could improve gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and gastroscopy findings.Methods: Seventeen subjects with scores of 8 points or higher on the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD (FSSG) questionnaire participated in the study. The exercise of dry swallowing in the bridge posture lasted 4 weeks and was performed ten times per day. FSSG scores were compared before and after exercise. Three of the 17 participants underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The modified Los Angeles classification of reflux esophagitis was used for objective assessment before and after exercise.Results: No participants dropped out of this study. FSSG scores improved significantly after exercise (from median [range] 16 [13–21] points before exercise to 5 [4–10] points after exercise, P <0.001). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed improvement in the modified Los Angeles classification grade in one participant.Conclusions: The bridge swallowing exercise significantly improves FSSG scores. This exercise can be performed easily and safely without adverse events. Further multicenter prospective studies are needed to validate that the bridge swallowing exercise is effective in improving GERD.