Mendelsohn Maneuver

SKILL: Swallowing

BRIEF RATIONALE: This exercise improves swallowing safety and efficiency.

[video]

Before beginning the Mendelsohn Maneuver treatment, you will read precautions and agree to continue. The speech therapist will provide guidance on any suggested materials (e.g. ice, water, food items). You will learn how to perform the exercise via written instructions and a simple video demonstration. .

After completing a set of repetitions, you will rate your fatigue and take a rest break based on your rating. You can always extend the break if needed.

REPLAY VIDEO: A replay button is available in the lower-left corner of the screen to review the video demonstration.

FOR THE CLINICIAN:

The Mendelsohn Maneuver improves hyolaryngeal movement, pharyngeal pressure, UES opening, and esophageal pressure. It requires good comprehension and motor control, so it's important to consider if your patient is the right fit.

Consider incorporating motor learning principles into this treatment for best results. For example:

• Practice amount- choose high intensity for more repetitions
• Practice variability- do the exercise using different types of boluses (if safe & appropriate)
• Practice schedule- start with blocked practice (one type of bolus) and then randomize it
• Target complexity- practice the whole movement instead of parts of the movement
• Feedback frequency- provide feedback after several attempts instead of after every trial
• Feedback control- encourage self-evaluation ("Was that successful? How long did you hold it for?")

Selected References:

1. Khemlani, A., Pawaria, S., & Chaudhary, V. (2024). Effects of Mendelsohn maneuver in Dyspagia: A literature review. International Journal of Convergence in Healthcare, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.55487/ty4jyy58
2. Zimmerman, E., Carnaby, G., Lazarus, C. L., & Malandraki, G. A. (2020). Motor learning, neuroplasticity, and strength and skill training: Moving from compensation to retraining in behavioral management of Dysphagia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(2S), 1065–1077. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_ajslp-19-00088