Effectiveness of Chin-tuck Maneuver to Facilitate Swallowing in Neurologic Dysphagia

Abstract

Introduction The chin-tuck maneuver is the most frequently employedostural maneuver in the treatment of neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia caused by encephalic vascular strokes and degenerative diseases. Objective Theurpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this maneuver inatients with neurogenic dysphagia and factors that could interfere in it. Methods In this retrospective cohort, we analyzed the medical files and videofluoroscopy exams of 35atients (19 male - 54% and 16 female - 46%; age range between 20 and 89 years old; mean = 69 years). Results The results suggest that the effectiveness of chin-tuck maneuver is related to the overall degree of dysphagia: the more severe the dysphagia, the less effective the maneuver. Conclusion Chin-tuck maneuver should benefit dysphagicatients with delay in the swallowing trigger, reduced laryngeal elevation, and difficulties to swallow liquids, but is not the best compensatory strategy foratients with severe dysphagia.