NCT05267314

External Pharyngeal Exerciser for Dysphagia

Impact of External Pharyngeal Exerciser on Dysphagia in Patients With Pharyngeal Weakness

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Southern California · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Pharyngeal muscle weakness and dysphagia is common in individuals post-stroke or with Parkinson's disease and in individuals with head/neck cancer who have undergone surgery and/or radiation therapy. Therapeutic options for these patients are limited. This pilot study is intended to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the External Pharyngeal Exerciser (EPE) on patients with pharyngeal dysphagia receiving swallow therapy. Feasibility will be assessed by patient acceptance and practice records. Safety will be compared between groups to test whether there is an increased risk of the EPE versus standard therapy.

Detailed description

Pharyngeal dysphagia is incredibly common in individuals who suffer from neurological disorders such as stroke or Parkinson's disease and in individuals with head/neck cancer who have undergone surgery and/or radiation therapy. The pharyngeal muscles in these patients are weak. Other than standard patient-driven swallow therapy, the therapeutic options for these patients are limited. Response to standard patient-drive therapy is variable and dependent on a variety of factors including the muscles most affected by the underlying disorder and patient motivation. This pilot study is intended to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the External Pharyngeal Exerciser (EPE) on patients with pharyngeal dysphagia receiving swallow therapy. Feasibility will be assessed by patient acceptance and practice records. Safety will be compared between groups to test whether there is an increased risk of the EPE versus standard therapy.

Conditions

• Pharyngeal Dysphagia
• Dysphagia
• Oral Pharyngeal Dysphagia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	pharyngeal exerciser + standard therapy	Use of Pharyngeal exerciser

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-12-07
• Primary completion: 2022-12-06
• Completion: 2022-12-06
• First posted: 2022-03-04
• Last updated: 2022-03-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States