Effects of sensorimotor exercise on swallowing outcomes relative to age and age-related disease.
Parallel to the growing number of adults over age 65 years and the increasing use of exercise in geriatric medicine to improve function and decrease fall risk, recent advances in the treatment of geriatric dysphagia have focused on rehabilitating swallowing function with active exercise. Specific changes in central neural pathways as well as peripheral end organs (muscles) that occur with natural aging may predispose older adults to an increased risk for dysphagia when faced with chronic medical conditions. Research to date primarily has focused on the utility of nonswallow motor exercises to increase muscle strength and range of motion in oropharyngeal structures. Future directions in the field of dysphagia rehabilitation demand evidence-based investigations into the ability of exercise to affect neural plasticity, representing long-lasting alterations in neural organization.
Kays
Stephanie
S
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. sakays@wisc.edu
Robbins
JoAnne
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome