Treatment of Dysphagia Using the Mendelsohn Maneuver

University of Arkansas

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Dysphagia; Stroke

Treatments: Behavioral: Mendelsohn Maneuver

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00592761

R03DC004942 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary goal of the investigation is to determine the effects of the Mendelsohn maneuver on the physiology of the swallow in individuals who have suffered a stroke and exhibit signs of pharyngeal dysphagia.

Full description

The primary goal of the investigation is to determine the effects of the Mendelsohn maneuver (voluntary prolongation of laryngeal excursion at the midpoint of the swallow) on the physiology of the swallow in individuals who have suffered a stroke and exhibit signs of pharyngeal dysphagia (specifically, reduced duration of hyoid maximum elevation, reduced extent of hyoid maximum elevation, reduced duration of hyoid maximum anterior excursion, reduced extent of hyoid maximum anterior excursion, and reduced duration of upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening with subsequent residue in the pyriform sinuses and, potentially, aspiration). Participants are assessed with videofluoroscopy at the initiation of the study and after each week of the study. After the 4 weeks of participation are complete, all participants will be discharged from treatment and will be brought back to the clinic for a final Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) evaluation after 2 weeks. This means that individuals in Group 1 will be re-analyzed after 1 month of additional no-treatment, and Group 2 will be re-analyzed after 2 additional weeks of no-treatment.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Stroke (1-18 months post)
• Pharyngeal Dysphagia

Exclusion criteria

• Other neurologic or structural abnormality to oropharynx
• History of dysphagia prior to latest stroke

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 1 patient group

Within subjects treatment, no-treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Within subject, treatment and no-treatment periods. Each participant served as his/her own control in this AABB/BBAA alternating treatment conditions design. Results were also compared across groups (treatment v. no-treatment).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mendelsohn Maneuver