Effects of Rehabilitative Exercises on Swallowing Function in Elderly People: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Swallowing problems are common in healthy elders. Swallowing difficulties are the cause of medical and psychosocial complications in old age. Thus, to prevent and minimize these complications, diagnosis and proper interventions are important. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of rehabilitative exercises on swallowing function and quality of life in older adults. Methods: A total of forty healthy elders were randomly assigned to the rehabilitative exercises group (n = 20) and the compensatory group (n = 20). Inclusion criteria in this study were as follows: age 60 - 80; the presence of swallowing problems assessed clinically by a speech therapist; no history of swallowing treatment, pneumonia or head and neck surgery, and other neurological or general disorders that can influence swallowing function. Randomization was undertaken using a block randomization technique. Rehabilitative exercises, including muscle strengthening exercises, were used in 3 sets of 10 per muscle group and three times per week for one month for the rehabilitative exercise group. In order to evaluate the outcomes, the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) and the P-dysphagia handicap index (P-DHI) were administered. Statistical analysis of data was done by the use of parametric statistical tests such as independent t-test, paired sample t-test, and nonparametric tests such as Mann-Whitney test, and P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding demographic and clinical swallowing function before intervention (P ≤ 0.05). There was a significant improvement in the clinical function of swallowing and swallow-related quality of life in the group which received the rehabilitative exercises compared to the group that received only the compensatory methods (P 0.001). Conclusions: Our research has indicated that swallowing rehabilitative exercises are more effective in improving clinical swallowing function in elderly persons than compensatory exercises.