Abstract
The Shaker Exercise is a simple isometric and isotonic exercise that has been shown to strengthen the suprahyoid muscles resulting in changes in deglutition (Am J Physiol 272: G1518–G1522, 1997; Gastroenterology 122: 1314–1321, 2002). Those changes have been shown to include an increase in anterior laryngeal excursion and anteroposterior deglutitive opening of the upper esophageal sphincter in healthy older adults and in patients with dysphagia (Am J Physiol 272: G1518–G1522, 1997; Gastroenterology 122: 1314–1321, 2002). Dysphagic patients have also been shown to experience the elimination of post-deglutitive aspiration (Gastroenterology 122: 1314–1321, 2002). The exercise does result in mild muscular discomfort which dissipates over the first week of the 6-week treatment course. The progression of the Shaker Exercise regimen should be tailored to the individual abilities of each patient, that is, a gradual stepwise progression toward the isometric and isotonic exercise goals.
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Easterling, C. (2013). Shaker Exercise. In: Shaker, R., Easterling, C., Belafsky, P., Postma, G. (eds) Manual of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques for Disorders of Deglutition. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3779-6_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3779-6_13
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