Which therapy technique is commonly used to improve pharyngeal constriction and swallow safety?

• A. Effortful swallow.
• B. Mendelsohn maneuver.
• C. Supraglottic swallow.
• D. Shaker exercise.

Answer: (A)

Effortful swallow strengthens pharyngeal constriction to improve swallow safety. When you swallow with maximum effort, the tongue base presses harder against the posterior pharyngeal wall and the pharyngeal walls squeeze more tightly around the bolus. This raises pharyngeal pressure, promotes more complete bolus clearance, and reduces post-swallow residue in areas like the valleculae and pyriform sinuses, lowering the risk of material entering the airway. It’s commonly used for people with reduced pharyngeal squeeze or residue that threatens safe swallowing. Other techniques focus on different goals—for example, prolonging laryngeal elevation to keep the cricopharyngeus open, using a breath-hold to protect the airway, or strengthening muscles to enhance UES opening—so they don’t primarily boost pharyngeal constriction the way the effortful swallow does.