Swallow exercises: Fun with tongue depressors

Coffee BreakRehabilitationTreatmentDysphagia CafeJune 9, 2013

I love alternatives to traditional approaches to therapy. When I think about swallowing exercises or oral motor exercises, I am a big fan of incorporating exercise that requires effort and includes resistance. I remind my patients if it is too easy, we must be doing something wrong. Essentially, I remind them, “no pain no gain.” Take the simple exercise of a lip press and make it into an advanced lip press with resistance. Not rocket science, but a handy item for the toolbox.

Supplies:

1) 5-7 tongue depressors

2) Silk Tape

How to make:

1) Stack two tongue depressors and tightly tape them together on one end only.

2) Slide 3-5 tongue depressors between the taped tongue depressors. Depending on the placement of the 3-5 tongue depressors will create more or less resistance

3) Secure the 3-5 tongue depressors between the two tongue depressors where appropriate

Directions:

1) Place between patient lips, anterior to teeth.

2) Have patient press the extended tongue depressors together and hold for 3 seconds, then release. And repeat 10x

3) Additionally, have patient press extended tongue depressors together 10x

Voila! A homemade lip press.

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