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

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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

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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.

著者

Mami Hirasaki Daisuke Takagi Yoshiko Umeda Motoki Moriwaki Norimasa Katagiri Akiko Nomoto Tomohisa Ohno 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.8, pp.20230006, 2023 (Released:2023-03-01)

参考文献数

20

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Background: Palatal augmentation prosthesis (PAP) and palatal lift prosthesis (PLP) have been used to improve dysphagia and dysarthria. However, to date, there are few reports on their combined use. We report a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of a flexible-palatal lift/augmentation combination prosthesis (fPL/ACP) based on videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and speech intelligibility testing.Case: An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a hip fracture. She developed aspiration pneumonia at 1 month after partial hip replacement. Oral motor function tests revealed a motor deficit of the tongue and soft palate. VFSS showed delayed oral transit, nasopharyngeal reflux, and excessive pharyngeal residue. The cause of her dysphagia was assumed to be pre-existing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and sarcopenia. To improve the dysphagia, an fPL/ACP was fabricated and applied. It improved the patient’s oral and pharyngeal swallowing and speech intelligibility. In addition to prosthetic treatment, rehabilitation and nutritional support allowed her to be discharged.Discussion: The effects of fPL/ACP in the present case were similar to those of flexible-PLP and PAP. f-PLP assists in elevation of the soft palate and improved the nasopharyngeal reflux and hypernasal speech. PAP promotes tongue movement and results in improved oral transit and speech intelligibility. Therefore, fPL/ACP may be effective in patients with motor deficits in both the tongue and soft palate. To maximize the effect of the intraoral prosthesis, a transdisciplinary approach with concurrent swallowing rehabilitation, nutritional support, and physical and occupational therapy is necessary.