PhagiaFLEX Jaw Opening Against Resistance Exercise for Dysphagia Instructions:
Jaw Opening Against Resistance (JOAR) Exercise for Dysphagia
Hold the PhagiaFLEX Device
with the blue chest pad pressed against your chest,
and the black chin pad pressed firmly into the soft area directly behind the chin bone.
Begin with your chin slightly elevated, back straight, ears directly over your shoulders.
Nod your head down slightly to tuck your chin towards your chest.
When in the chin tucked position, hold and slowly open mouth widely and slowly close mouth.
A variation of this dysphagia exercise is to hold the mouth open position for 30-60 seconds.
PhagiaFLEX Chin Tuck Against Resistance Exercise for Dysphagia Instructions:
Chin Tuck Against Resistance Exercise (CTAR)
Hold the PhagiaFLEX Device
with the blue chest pad pressed against your chest,
and the black chin pad pressed firmly into the soft area directly behind the chin bone.
Begin with your chin slightly elevated, back straight, ears directly over your shoulders.
Slowly nod your head up and down like you are nodding “YES”, with good range of motion, up and down.
Do not let your head lean forward. Keep your ears directly over your shoulders throughout the exercise.
A variation of this exercise is to tuck the chin down and hold for 30-60 seconds.
How to use disposable chin pad covers with the PhagiaFLEX Device:
1. Slide the cover over the chin pad with the adhesive strip on top.
2. Peel the protective film from the adhesive strip.
3. Secure the adhesive strip to the plastic behind the chin pad and wrap around to underneath.
4. After use with one patient, take the chin pad cover off and dispose.
5. Clean the entire device (including the chin pad) with a disinfectant wipe.
More Dysphagia Exercises
If it is determined that you have dysphagia, your speech-language pathologist may recommend that you practice the following exercises during therapy and at home, as well as compensatory strategies, to improve your swallow function and safety.
1. The Shaker Exercise
Lie on your back on a bed or sofa without a pillow. Slowly raise your head up so that you can look at your feet, then slowly lower it back down. Repeat until the muscles in your neck feel fatigued.
2. The Shaker Exercise - Extended Hold
Lie on your back on a bed or sofa without a pillow. Slowly raise your head up so that you can look at your feet and hold it there for 30 seconds. Slowly lower it back down. Repeat until the muscles in your neck feel fatigued.
3. Showa's Maneuver
Press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth and hold it there while you swallow hard, squeezing the muscles in your face and neck tightly. Repeat this exercise after each of the other exercises.
4. Masako's Technique
Protrude the tongue out of the mouth and hold in that position, between the teeth, as you swallow . Repeat this exercise after each of the other exercises.
5. Supraglottic Swallow
Take a deep breath and hold while you swallow. Exhale and clear your throat and then swallow again. Repeat after each of the other exercises.
6. Lateralizing Tongue Press Against Resistance
Press your tongue into your right cheek. Gently press against it with your hand to provide resistance and hold for 30 seconds. Then do the same thing on the left side. Alternate back and forth until your tongue muscles become fatigued.
