PharyngoCARE

PharyngoCARE is a comprehensive preventative fitness program for individuals undergoing head and neck chemoradiotherapy.

Products include:

1. TonguePRESS
2. CTAR Premium & Pump 
3. Jaw Measure
4. ResistSTRAWS
5. LaryngeLIFT
6. DirectMIST
7. Daily Oropharyngeal Swallowing Exercises Card

Exercises include:

• Tongue Strengthening using TonguePRESS®
• Falsetto Resistance Drills using SOVT with LaryngeLIFT™
• Chin Tuck Against Resistance for suprahyoid and UES opening using CTAR Ball® Premium as well as Jaw Opening Against Resistance
• Power Sucking to improve tongue retraction, velopharyngeal closure, and laryngeal elevation, along with swallow drills including Effortful Swallow, Masako, and Mendelsohn Maneuvers using ResistSTRAWS

This product is designed to complement formal swallowing treatment and diet modifications while patients undergo chemoradiotherapy to prevent loss of oral feeding skills and the loss of swallowing strength from lack of use. The exercises are designed for home drills. Included is a Daily Oropharyngeal Swallowing Exercises card with pictured instructions, prescriptive assignments by the attending swallowing professional and a charting grid. The kit also includes a long arm mister to help direct water or flavored thin liquids to stronger areas of the mouth and to help keep mucosa moist.   Additionally, PharynoCARE provides an article by Tiffani L. Wallace, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S entitled “Treating Patients with Head and Neck Cancer”. Tiffani provides an overview of the current research and treatments recommended in establishing preventive swallowing programs for patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.