Rehabilitation exercises after the removal of cancerous cells in the neck, tongue and mouth are largely dependent on issues like the type of cancer discovered, the location of the cancerous tumor, the age of the patient and the stage of cancer, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Although the exercises prescribed are largely dependent on a variety of issues, most of the rehabilitation protocol involves exercises designed to stimulate the swallow response and postures designed to help you expel breath when speaking, the U.S. National Institutes of Health notes.
Chin Down Posture
In this rehabilitative exercise, the patient tries to touch his chin to his neck while simultaneously trying to swallow, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The tuck and swallow pushes the front of the patient's neck back to make the airway smaller. The NIH reports that this exercise has been successful in reducing complications and enabling the patient to swallow and speak following surgery.
Jaw and Laryngeal Range of Motion Exercises
The jaw range of motion exercise is performed by opening your mouth as wide as possible and moving your jaw from side to side and in as wide a circle as possible, according to the medical oncology page at PsychiatricTimes.com. The laryngeal range of motion involves using your voice to perform musical scales up until your voice is in the "falsetto range," according to the website. Other exercises include humming vowel sounds, coughing exercises and even chewing gum. Patients are often asked to perform the exercises in 5-minute intervals 10 times a day, according to the website.
Supraglottic Swallow
This exercise, also known as voluntary airway closure, is performed by inhaling a deep breath and holding it while swallowing, according to NIH. This movement is followed by coughing as soon as you finish swallowing to remove any debris or residue from your airway. The exercise is designed to help you improve your ability to protect your airway and prevent the leakage of air from your airway when you swallow.
