Effectiveness of exercises to rehabilitate oropharyngeal dysphagia after stroke: an integrative review

Abstract

Introduction. The treatment selection for patients with dysphagia should be based on the best possible quality evidence. This treatment may involve rehabili-tative exercises with the aim of modifying swallowing physiology and promoting long-term changes. Objective. To explore the effects of exercises and maneuvers aimed at reactivating swallowing function in people with oropharyngeal dysphagia after a stroke, through existing scientific publications from the last ten years. Methodology. A literature review was carried out in the PubMed databases with the MeSH terms “Deglutition Disorders” and “Exercise Therapy”, and with the free terms “Dysphagia” and “Swallowing Therapy”, combined with the Boolean inter-section “AND”. Results. The tongue-to-palate resistance training exercises, expiratory muscle strength training (EMST), chin tuck against resistance (CTAR), Shaker, and jaw opening were those that showed, with greater bibliographic support, positive effects in the treatment of dysphagia. Conclusions. The information collected could be of clinical utility to guide the selection of one or another therapeutic procedure. Evidence should continue to be generated regarding the effectiveness of swallowing exercises in oropharyngeal dys-phagia after stroke.