Introduction
dysphagia, choking, HNC, upper esophageal sphincter, dehydration, Dysphagia, Head and neck cancer
DYSPHAGIA, CHOKING, DEHYDRATION, MALNUTRITION, DYSPHAGIA, ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA, HEAD AND NECK CANCER
Head and neck cancer (HNC) incidence is expected to increase in the western world mainly as a consequence of an aging population and an increase of HNC caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) [Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy is an effective oncological treatment, offered in some extent to around 80% of HNC patients [Dysphagia impacts several aspects of HNC patients’ lives and is known to have negative effects on the patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQL) [Dysphagia treatment aims to prevent or decrease medical risks of dysphagia such as malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, and choking and to improve HRQL [The head-lift exercise (HLE) was originally developed to improve the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) by strengthening the suprahyoidal, thyrohyoid, and pharyngeal muscles to improve hyoid and laryngeal elevation and consequently the UES opening [The research group has recently published two articles from a randomized control trial evaluating the effect of the HLE on swallowing function and physiology in HNC by observer-rated instrumental assessment [