Table 2 Intervention characteristics of included studies
From: Exercise-based dysphagia rehabilitation for adults with oesophageal cancer: a systematic review
Authors, year | Exercises with Rehabilitative Purpose | Other Exercises and/or Compensatory Strategies | Mode, Frequency, Intensity, Duration Dosage of Intervention | Timing of dysphagia rehabilitation in relation to start of cancer treatment | Duration of rehabilitation (Mean +/−Std dev) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Okumura et al., 2016 [37] | Pursed lip breathing, Tongue exercises, Shaker “head lift” exercises. | Cervical range of motion exercise Shoulder stretch Jaw opening Respiratory therapy Compensatory strategies: Modified food and fluids. | SLT & nurses in the surgical ward delivered initial verbal & written instruction. See Additional file 1 for instructions. Exercises × 5 a day at home and upon admission to the hospital, up until the day before surgery. Unclear if patient-led thereafter. | Prehab: Approximately 23+/− 9.2 days preoperatively Rehab: from the time oral intake was resumed after confirming the absence of anastomotic leakage post-surgery. | Prehab: 23+/−9.2 Days pre-surgery. Rehab: 26+/− 15 days post-surgery. |
Tsubosa et al., 2005 [69] | Mendelsohn manoeuvre. Long lasting change may have also potentially occurred from the super-supraglottic swallow. | Oral care, Neck and shoulder exercises Oral exercises, Thermal tactile stimulation, Super-supraglottic swallow, Effortful breath hold. Compensatory strategies: Multiple swallows, chin down, Modified food and fluids. | Article states ‘Intensively’ however no definition or information provided. See Additional file 1 for information on exercises. | Post-operative- unknown precisely when. | 9.7 +/− 6.9 days post-surgery. 5/9 participants required more than 1 round of rehabilitation. |
Takatsu et al., 2020 [70] | Indirect training: Tongue exercises Shaker exercise Jaw opening Thermal-tactile stimulation Voice therapy | Direct training: Education provision Training while eating jelly: Position adjustment- chin down Effortful swallows, supraglottic swallow, adjusted bolus size supervised. Food and fluid intake increased based on patient progress. | No detail provided on duration, frequency or intensity of indirect or direct training. | Modified water swallow test (MWST) completed by SLT after routine CT on POD 5 or 6. Patients with intermediate or high aspiration risk based on MWST provided with indirect and, if possible, direct rehabilitation. | Not provided |