title: Efficacy of exercises to rehabilitate dysphagia: A critique of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review critiques the benefit of commonly used rehabilitative exercises for dysphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Common goals of rehabilitation for dysphagia and principles of neuroplasticity are introduced as they apply to swallowing and non-swallowing exercises. A critique of published studies is offered regarding their evidence for showing benefit from the exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One of five swallow exercises had preliminary evidence for long-term benefit and two of four non-swallow exercises have strong evidence for long-term benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a minority of exercises prescribed for patients with dysphagia have sufficient evidence for long-term improvement in swallowing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Boston University School of Medicine , Boston, MA , USA.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Langmore
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pisegna
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Dysphagia; efficacy; therapy