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Largo Chiropractic Care for Cervical Spine Conditions and Related Dysphagia (swallowing trouble)

Many Largo cervical spine-related pain (like neck pain, stiffness, or other degenerative cervical spine disease conditions) sufferers are curious how it might impact your swallowing ability. Dysphagia is the technical term for swallowing problems. While cervical spine conditions may affect your pharynx and its swallowing function, it is important to know just how and why this occurs. Let us, Hollstrom & Associates Inc and our Largo chiropractic client, look more closely at the connection between cervical spine disorders and swallowing function.

The Link Between Cervical Spine Pain and Swallowing Function

The relationship between cervical spine pain conditions and swallowing function entails both sensory and motor components. When it comes to the sensory part, pain stemming from the neck has the potential to hamper your ability to identify what’s in your mouth, resulting in difficulty knowing when to swallow which can result in issues like choking or coughing during meals. On the motor side of things, cervical spine pain conditions may also interfere with your ability to process food as it goes through your mouth and throat by disrupting normal tongue, jaw, and hyolaryngeal movements (the movement of the hyoid bone, the bone that supports the tongue). Therefore, there may be trouble clearing food debris from your mouth after each bite or sip. Additionally, cervical spine disorder has been linked to increased risk of aspiration (inhaling food particles) due to reduced laryngeal elevation that commonly occurs during swallowing. (1) Hollstrom & Associates Inc wants our Largo cervical spine pain patients to be aware of such issues.

The Importance of Proper Treatment

The ability to swallow affects your quality of life. A variety of diseases and spinal conditions may be the root cause of the swallowing trouble. Researchers are fine-tuning their evaluation of patients with swallowing issues. (2) A recent study reported that, lucky for these patients, those who have spine-associated dysphagia had better outcomes with treatment than those whose dysphagia was related to other issues. (1) In fact, a case report of a female patient with swallowing issues who also had cervical osteophytes, cervical kyphosis, and thoracolumar scoliosis was treated for 6 months with chiropractic reported relief of all issues including dysphagia. (3) In order for individuals with cervical spine disorder-related dysphagia to return to safe eating habits, proper treatment is important. Treatment at Hollstrom & Associates Inc typically involves a thorough examination to determine the underlying cervical spine issue followed by a treatment plan incorporating gentle spinal manipulation care (often in the form of Cox® Technic) and exercises meant to increase strength and range of motion in the neck muscles as well as strategies to swallow safely when eating. Electrical stimulation has been found beneficial in targeting specific areas of weakness related to impaired tongue motion or jaw closure while also promoting increased blood flow throughout the neck region. (4,5) Hollstrom & Associates Inc deliveres research based and clinically experienced relieving treatment modalities along with chiropractic spinal manipulation.

CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc

While there isn't necessarily a quick fix for this problem—treatment typically takes several weeks—and with patience and dedication you can get the results you want with personalized care tailored specifically for your needs. Make your Largo chiropractic appointment today.

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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."