Improve Your Swallowing Function with These Dysphagia Exercises

Do you have trouble swallowing food or liquids? Do you feel like something is stuck in your throat? Do you cough or choke when you eat or drink? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have dysphagia, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
Dysphagia can have serious consequences for your health and quality of life. It can cause malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, and social isolation. But don’t worry, there is hope. You can improve your swallowing function and reduce your risk of complications with some simple exercises that you can do at home.
In this video, I will show you how to perform these exercises safely and effectively.
These exercises are based on scientific evidence and proven results. They are suitable for people with mild to moderate dysphagia caused by various conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, head and neck cancer, or aging. They are also easy to follow and require no special equipment.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a glass of water and join me in this video. Together, we can overcome dysphagia and reclaim your health and happiness.
- Effortful swallow: Swallow hard while squeezing all of your muscles¹.
- Masako maneuver: Stick out your tongue and hold it between your teeth while swallowing¹.
- Mendelsohn maneuver: Swallow normally but hold your Adam's apple at its highest point for a few seconds¹.
- Shaker exercise: Lie flat on your back and raise your head as if you were looking at your toes. Hold this position for a few seconds and then relax. Repeat several times².
- Supraglottic swallow: Hold your breath before and during swallowing, then cough after swallowing.
#dysphagia #choking #swallowing
Recommended Book about stroke: amzn.to/3BZ3ISX
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Disclaimer:
This video should not replace the necessity of visiting your doctor or getting your occupational therapy session done. Please consult your primary care physician before doing any of this. The video is for educational purposes only.
By performing any fitness exercises, you are performing them at your own risk. Skills and wellness will not be responsible or liable for any injury or harm you sustain as a result of our fitness program.
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Affiliate Disclaimer: the links for the products will lead you to an online store which I may or may not earn a little amount when you order. This will greatly help in continuing to make Occupational Therapy videos.

[@aphillips7589]

Thank you. This video is greatly appreciated.. I have trouble swallowing. I plan to keep your video and go through these exercises daily.

[@peteslickN16933]

THANK YOU!!! I had the ACDF surgical procedure over a year ago. I have some serious issues with Aspiration and dry heaving everyday. The ENT's I consulted in didn't recommend any type of treatment or personal therapy. The only advise I got was chew food well, drink a lot of liquid with each bite, and eat my meals absorbed in no other external stimulus (watching TV and eating....ect I'll whole heartedly take your exercises daily. It would be nice to feel like I'm not chocking

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

It shouldnt hurt to strenghten your swallowing muscles and practice

[@SmandytheBull]

Thank you! I really needed this. ❤

[@jacklynwilliam3862]

Thanks so much! This has helped me tremendously!

[@Fetherko]

Masako is difficult! I am going to practice it. Thank you

[@waiwai2799]

Thanks so much. Im gonna train my sister who cant eat and swallow after a stroke.

[@yinbambi]

omg i think i needed this its so hard to swallow with my tongue out! thank you

[@eduardogong]

I have PD since 2018. I have trouble with drinking and swallowing. These exercises help me get better as I practice them everyday 👍

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Yay. Awesome. But dont forget to take your meds on time too

[@mutonimichelle4940]

Thank u so much

[@angelakindon9839]

Thanks!

[@jonojene222]

thank you thank you so much , ure extercise save my life , because im suffering with this diagnose dysphagia & make me stress & hopeless, thank you brother for help me through this exercise, Keep health & bless God to you brother, success brother, ameeeennn😇🙏🙏🙏

[@zainalalliahmad4642]

It's 2 a.m. here in the Philippines I am very much thankful for this video I experience difficulty both swallowing and speaking after I was diagnosed with Lupos lupos,

[@memecam2691]

It was really helpful 👍

[@rhadztvlaagan]

Very helpful

[@leaveittolefty]

thank you!!

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

You are welcome

[@Vekktoria]

The second exercise is so hard to do for me, I'm concerned its due to some sort of blockage or possibly lack of muscle strength to do it but wow is it ever difficult. Using bit of water helps the exercise alot

[@leaveittolefty]

i have a paralyzed vocal cord with swallowing issues from 5/2019 and went thru speech therapy 3 times ending last year. i would always leave session with painfully sore neck and throat. i noticed in just these first two short exercises my throat becoming very tight and sore. i’ll keep trying…

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Try fewer reps. Might need to slow down a bit

[@SeshachalamS]

Pc. ,,

[@brgythanoschannel8702]

Gaws ka naman ng content tungkol sa hindi najakspaalùta

[@meriampaiste9704]

​@@brgythanoschannel8702tungkol SA Hindi nakakapagsalita you meant

[@MohdRedzaAndRazak]

K klokk knkklo​@@meriampaiste9704

[@LeapCoolman1]

It really work

[@Danielthemaniel7]

First: thank you these exercises seem to be helping me. Much appreciation. Question: wlll shaker exercise be beneficial for esophageal/throar spasms, or will it make things worse? Long story short: I've been experience esophagus spasms, basically continually and relentlessly. I am waiting to go to a GI but don't have an appointment until mid Feb. I have been having issues for months and no answers. Started after traveling to Mexivo and I issues in my lower stomach and esophagus. It has caused a lot of discomfort since mid August. Had 3 weeks late Nov where I felt norma and has been relentless the last three weeks. I

[@PrizrenaliZH]

I had dysphagia from the age of 21 to 32. 11 years... at the end, I found out it was my thyroid overfunctioning. During my dysphagia I had total blockage often. It was the worst symptom I ever had. It kills your nerves and your mental health. When I then threaded my thyroid (with Vitamins, diets and lycopus plant) and when finally my thyroid was getting better, swallowing slowly became easier. This week I removed my upper teeth (most probably also damaged heavily due to my ill thyroid over the years), I got denturs. Since I have dentures, I have dysphagia again 😢😢. I hope it's going to be better after some days. Once I remove my dentures and try to eat without them, I have no dysphagia... test your thyroids, friends!

[@Dan-gw3cu]

How they detected It was thyroid?

[@PrizrenaliZH]

@@Dan-gw3cu funny story though. 4 or 5 doctors I visited and they all claimed I had dysphagia due to mental problems, stress etc. Then, one day I met an old school friend, who was shocked how skinny I got. He told me, his brother had same conditions and that his brother had the Grant Disease (Hyperthyroidism). He conviced me to have the same problem. So I went to the doctor the very next day. The doctor was shocked, she never tested me for thyroid functionality. So now she actually did test me by taking my blood. 3 days later the results came in and I got a call by a hospital, telling me to immediately go to the hospital. There they explained me that I broke all of their records. They never believed one can be as ill as I was without dying (I was surrounded by 5 or 6 doctors and professors). Their threatment didn't help, so they wanted me to do a surgery. By that time I found Dr. Rieger in Germany (I am from Switzerland), who claimed surgeries are unnecessary for my disease. I started his diet. Here I am. Freed from symptoms, God bless. All by natural healing without ever had to have a surgery.

[@PrizrenaliZH]

@@Dan-gw3cu btw my newly adapted dysphagia due to the dentures is getting better. I am getting used to the dentures and the plastic in my mouth hurts less.

[@Dan-gw3cu]

@@PrizrenaliZH holy cow thats crazy, glad you found out what It was. In my case the thyroid seems ok, still trying to figure out whats happening with me.

[@kevinhoward5520]

Wow what was the surgery they were trying tonget you to do?​@PrizrenaliZH

[@marlac8917]

@SKILLSANDWELLNESS how do I know if Im doing the "Effortful Swallow" correctly?

[@bibble913]

Dose this strengthen the swallow I have dysphasia and it’s been real hard to get stuff down the first time I swallow please respond that would be wonderful. Thank you.

[@francisbantigue8303]

Sir thank you sir is this applicable for GERD patient like me

[@ls-l1518]

I have such problems with pills, and I need to take a lot of supplements. I feel so nasous, and feel like throwing up when trying to swallow them . I am often nasous in general. It feels like it sits in the throat. Is this common, the nausa?

[@vivichan4219]

Hello Dr. I'm from India. I too have the same problem as well as thyroid issue. Due to this, I often get anxious. I have started doing these exercises regularly since 15 days. I have seen improvement in my swallowing. I also do your tongue swallowing exercise. So can I practice 2 different exercises in one day? Please reply sir 🙏 and thank you so much 🙏

[@user-qe7ku8kg1m]

In this midnight of UK.. I am trying to do these exercises bcz m struggling to swallow my one tablet .. it got stuck 5 hours ago in my throat.. Really you are an angel for me at the moment.

[@HamCommy]

Hope you got that pill down 😭😭😭

[@keleraliku4952]

Hiyeeeee Nathan, I had a stroke and was tube feed for awhile due to the fact it affected my swallowing. Still affects my swallowing. Even though tube is out , swallowing is abit difficult and yes I have had my share if choking when I think I am about to die( bad experience) . Now, I think my nerves are affected because somehow I get pins and needles and it's really painful mostly my right side and speech slurred

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

I hope this helps. Amd try to see a speech therapist too

[@javeed.makandar.6138]

I had tongue surgery 5 months àgo and had radiotherapy after this i am having problems in swallowing food

[@bhushanjoshi2723]

Is it useful achlasia cardia?

[@ricardoberti892]

I had the same thing i had a endoscopy

[@wildonfootball2619]

Can you put Turkish subtitles I don't know English 😊

[@maryravetta6622]

I need to understand why I need exercises.

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Because the mouth and throat are also smooth muscles and can be retrained to function properly

[@candacechapman4689]

Hi, thank you for this video. Are these excercises suitable for someone with a hiatal hernia?

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

It will help with swallowing and not choking. But not with treating the hernia

[@candacechapman4689]

@SKILLSANDWELLNESS thank you for the reply - appricate it. I'll give these exercises a go.

[@kassimkhan5524]

I had cancer surgery on my throat and I have not been able to swallow since

[@shirogitsune3480]

So, I know this is a long shot, but I’ve gone and seen about every doctor under the sun and I’m still no closer to finding the cause of my swallowing issues. I’ve been scoped and confirmed it’s not a problem with my nose or throat, it’s not GERD, it’s nothing visible in my mouth, no growths or irritation or anything, but I have had trouble swallowing. It’s hard for me to keep control of where food is in my mouth, and when I go to swallow it feels like I can’t swallow correctly without feeling like I’m going to choke. If anyone has any suggestions on what it could possibly be, I’d greatly appreciate it.

[@garygrigorian3277]

I have exactly the same problem. I have seen 10 different ENT doctors and they can not figure this out.

[@joelalejandro1463]

doc p request nmn po ng trigger finger exercises, thank you.

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Try ko po.

[@Kevdog1920]

I have cp so yeah I have this all the time

[@bonniemorris5449]

Can a person aspirat without knowing it?

[@sariemasam7464]

👌

[@kathleenadelethompson3214]

What would you suggest to help singing please ?

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Im so sorry. That right resource might be a singing or voice coach for that inquiry

[@mapamelafrogozo4392]

Good day sir Anu po pwede niyu ma recommend na food for people having difficulty swallowing or people diognose na may lower dysphagia. Nag start po ako last April dis year na may difficulty of swallowing ako Im 45 yrs old.and may gamot poba para sa ganitong sakit to To improve my swallowing And

[@francisbantigue8303]

Doc bisaya ko naa kay clinic dri cebu

[@cjuded1]

I've beendiagnosed with esophogesl Dismotility. My GP tells me exercises can't help. Is that right?

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Might not help but wont make you worse

[@user-dh2xd4zq3g]

لم استطع ياعزيزي عمل اي تمرين😢

[@meryemmeghiche3262]

روحي مختص نطق لانه ياخذ عدة جلسات لتدريب ليس بهذه السهولة

[@vivichan4219]

How many times we do we have to do this in one day?

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Start with twice a day

[@Adorableknotsbyfaith]

I just have issues with swallowing. It’s like I feel like I’m going to choke on my food but I don’t. I think I’m paying too much attention to swallowing. I’m healthy just dealing with anxiety… I’m sensitive but it’s hard to not to pay attention to my swallowing. I have issues when I start thinking about it. I keep myself busy don’t have issues 🙄😣

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Im glad you found a way to cope with it. And with practice, you will definitely improve

[@Vexelius]

I have a similar issue... Anxiety "closes up" my throat and makes it difficult for me to swallow. But I have been able to improve by using the "Improve swallowing mouth and tongue exercises" video that is also found in this channel - it helps me soften the muscles of my neck. Try them out!

[@renrose2386]

@@Vexelius I have these problems, I choke on food, I feel a delay in the swallowing process, I haven't wanted to eat for more than 2 weeks, I'm afraid of choking again, I have problems with to swallow solid food, especially meat, I've always had it and every year it gets worse, I'm choking even liquid

[@Blodyqueef]

@@Ecthelion007dude, an OT can provide PT for the affliction! Primarily because speech therapy and occupational therapy cross over so much.

[@namemurgice6442]

I have problems swallowing for 7 years. Only this year I have started to go to doctors, since I was never sure, and its hard to take that step. Be sure that it can be anxiety but it can also be some nerves, I swallowed the tube and now I'm waiting for some results on miastenia gravis. I just want to say, that I also as you, have a choking sense, but I never do choke, I just hold the food in my mouth scared to push it down.

[@josepheliesa6082]

Hi Nathan I Try out your worked out. Is it normal for a First Time user to eat and and Just Half Way wanna Puke or what. Or is it just Because I've haven't eaten properly for awhile. But when l try out your Program it work. The only issue is that l still wanna Vomit🤷

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

That is because your gg reflex is hyper active. Try to eat smaller bites. And chew a little longer

[@marlac8917]

How do you chew though without getting out of breathe.

[@sethmewes161]

Weird thing is yawning causes it to stop completely for like 5 seconds

[@priyankagayathri6600]

Hi, my father has esophagus dysphagia. What are the exercise s we need to do

[@thecapecodder]

I'm dealing with not being able to initiate a swallow and it's terrifying.. so far doctors can't figure out why

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

They need to test you. An appointment with a EENT doctor and speech therapist will greatly help

[@thecapecodder]

@@SKILLSANDWELLNESS all they found so far is LPR and thyroid nodules. Wish I had someone like you where I live!!

[@renrose2386]

maybe a speech therapist can help you

[@thecapecodder]

@@renrose2386 waiting on referral to neurologist. Many doctors have no clue what's wrong at this point

[@nicklleees1571]

Achalasia?

[@debbiesobelson5926]

is it ormal to gag during the masako maneuver

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

No it is not. Try without water first. Dry swallowinh first

[@francemedina264]

hi, kuya nathan!... i am 52 yrs. old and i had parkinson when i was 49.... that's my problem now a days, swallowing! i also have difficulty swallowing on Mendelsohn maneuver position. and when i am off i could not move at all, only my eyeball is moving. i also have drooling now. it is easy for me to swallow when i look down i always watch ur neck and arm rigidity exercise because i find my neck a super relief when doing that. thank you!..… but i also have a question, why do i feel that the food i swallowed is still on my throat even i already drink plenty of water and i have a hard time burping?.... thanks again and God bless❤😊 9:11 9:11

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

It could be weakness in the throat or it could also be structural. Please see a doctor and they might prescribe a swallow study.

[@francemedina264]

@@SKILLSANDWELLNESS thank you ♥️

[@justinerickson282]

I cant do the Masako (spelling?) at all..

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

Thank you for the exercises but why do you have a boodha and dragon there?

[@alnieoghayon6193]

Sir Nathan my excersise bs pra sa pgsasalita kasi d na maintinn salita q

[@Prisca-pp5pc]

✅

[@akanemmanuel9186]

Do we have any drugs for this disease? My father is a victim.. please

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

I cannot recommend anything. Only a doctor can prescribe medication

[@dennisholst4322]

Than

[@leroyrobinson7018]

It’s not working!!! I then gagged up everything

[@JamesWill-iu1dw]

i think i have dysphagia because i cant swallowing in one month im so starving i think i dont live soon i die yiung im scared

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Please see your doctor to find out what is causing it

[@JamesWill-iu1dw]

@@SKILLSANDWELLNESS my test will arrive tommorow i smoked alot and use some drugs can dysphagia be cancer or mote dangerouse and can dysphagia go away forever

[@snowy-1920]

​@@JamesWill-iu1dw How are u bro ... How abt your tests ...

[@lorrainerichardson4816]

My mother had a stroke one day she was swallow then she stopped now doctors don't want to do anything for her to help with her swallowing they looking at her age will this help her she is alert and just want to leave hospital. They want her to die she on an nurtional drip no therapy

[@SKILLSANDWELLNESS]

Try doing these exercises. If you hbae somebody she listens to, let that person come see your mother often. And do the exercises slowly and with intention. No food or water yet.

[@lorrainerichardson4816]

@@SKILLSANDWELLNESS thank you not even nectar water she should going home today

[@lorrainerichardson4816]

She swallowed this morning and open her mouth

[@debbiesobelson5926]

ormal =normal