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

Many Fort Wayne people suffering from neck pain, stiffness, or other degenerative cervical spine disease conditions may be surprised to learn how it might affect your ability to swallow. Dysphagia is the technical term for swallowing problems. While cervical spine conditions may affect pharyngeal swallowing function, it is important to recognize just how and why that would occur. Let’s, Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc and you, 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 involves both sensory and motor components. When it comes to the sensory part, pain stemming from the neck can hamper your ability to sense what is in your mouth, resulting in trouble knowing when to swallow which can lead to issues such as choking or coughing while eating. On the motor side of things, cervical spine pain conditions might also disturb your ability to move food as it moves through your mouth and throat by disrupting normal tongue, jaw, and hyolaryngeal motions (the movement of the hyoid bone, the bone that holds the tongue). Therefore, there may be trouble clearing food debris from your mouth after each bite or sip. Furthermore, cervical spine disorder has been linked to heightened risk of aspiration (inhaling food particles) due to decreased laryngeal elevation that commonly occurs during swallowing. (1) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc wants our Fort Wayne cervical spine pain patients to know about such issues.

The Importance of Proper Treatment

The ability to swallow impacts your quality of life. A variety of diseases and spinal conditions may be the source 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-related dysphagia had better outcomes with treatment than patients whose dysphagia was linked to other issues. (1) In fact, a case report of a female patient who had both dysphagia and cervical osteophytes, cervical kyphosis, and thoracolumar scoliosis was treated for 6 months with chiropractic and reported relief of all issues including dyspagia. (3) In order for individuals with cervical spine disorder-related dysphagia to again experience safe eating habits, proper treatment is essential. Treatment at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc typically starts with 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 improve strength and range of motion in the neck muscles plus strategies to swallow safely when eating. Electrical stimulation has been found helpful in targeting specific areas of weakness associated with impaired tongue motion or jaw closure while also promoting increased blood flow throughout the neck region. (4,5) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc deliveres research based and clinically experienced relieving treatment modalities along with chiropractic spinal manipulation.

CONTACT Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc

There may not be a quick fix for this problem—treatment typically takes some time—and with patience and dedication you can get the results you want with individualized care tailored specifically for your needs. Schedule your Fort Wayne 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."