What is the chin-down posture? A questionnaire survey of speech language pathologists in Japan and the United States.
The "chin-down" or "chin-tuck" maneuver is a postural technique widely used in dysphagia treatment. The posture, however, does not have a precise anatomical definition. We studied the current practice of 42 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Japan and the U.S. with a questionnaire survey regarding the chin-down posture. The main findings were that (1) three of five of the pictures were selected by respondents both in Japan and in the U.S. as depicting the chin-down posture; (2) 23% of Japanese and 58% of the U.S. SLPs made a distinction between chin down and chin tuck; and (3) the use of anatomical terminology by SLPs differed between the two countries. This study showed that there is poor agreement among SLPs about the meaning of the chin-down and chin-tuck postures. Developing a precise definition is important because various postures may have differing physiologic effects.
Okada
Sumiko
S
Faculty of Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, and Department of Rehabilitation, Fujita Health University Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. okadas@fujita-hu.ac.jp
Saitoh
Eiichi
E
Palmer
Jeffrey B
JB
Matsuo
Koichiro
K
Yokoyama
Michio
M
Shigeta
Ritsuko
R
Baba
Mikoto
M
D002680:Chin / Q000502:physiology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States