Aging in Place: Swallow Exercise—When, Who, and How Much?

Presented by Angela Mansolillo

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Video Runtime: 49 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 31 Minutes

Exercise to rehabilitate swallowing disorders in aging clients is a common tool in the dysphagia toolbox of SLPs. Exercise, however, is not a one-size-fits-all intervention. This course will give you the tools to identify appropriate candidates for exercise; choose targeted, evidence-based exercises; and prescribe those exercises in a dose that will result in measurable improvement in swallow function. Principles of exercise physiology and of motor learning will be incorporated to ensure the success of your exercise programs.

Learning Objectives
  • Incorporate the principles of exercise physiology to make determinations as to who is and is not a candidate for swallow exercise
  • Evaluate the evidence for swallow exercises as it relates to specific impairments in swallow function
  • Incorporate principles of motor learning into swallow treatment plans for individuals with dysphagia

Meet your instructor

Angela Mansolillo

Angela Mansolillo is a speech-language pathologist and board-certified specialist in swallowing disorders with more than 25 years of experience. She is currently a senior speech-language pathologist at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she provides evaluation and treatment services for adults and…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Exercise Physiology: When and Why Exercise Works

1. Exercise Physiology: When and Why Exercise Works

Is exercise right for my client? This chapter will describe the principles of exercise physiology and enable you to identify which of your clients with dysphagia is a good candidate for swallow exercise. Guidelines for appropriate exercise dose will also be provided.

Choosing Your Target: What’s the Underlying Impairment?

2. Choosing Your Target: What’s the Underlying Impairment?

Which exercise for which impairment? This chapter will evaluate the evidence for swallow exercises as they relate to specific underlying impairments to facilitate the development of targeted, effective treatment plans.

A Change of Thinking About Exercise: Incorporating Skill Training Into Your Program

3. A Change of Thinking About Exercise: Incorporating Skill Training Into Your Program

How can we help our frail elders? This chapter will offer strategies for early identification of dysphagia and will discuss the evidence for nutritional interventions as well as both whole-body and swallow exercises.