The Essentials: Dysphagia and Cervical Spine Issues

Video Runtime: 34 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 12 Minutes

Dysphagia is a symptom, not a disease unto itself. Difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of a wide variety of medical diagnoses. The underlying diagnosis is a critical factor to consider when developing a treatment approach. Dysphagia clinicians must guard against a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead develop an understanding of the causative factors and pathophysiology of swallowing disorders in each disease process.

This course will discuss dysphagia in the setting of cervical spine disorders. The characteristics of dysphagia in patients with cervical spine disorders, including patients with osteophytes, patients with cervical bracing, and postsurgical patients, will be reviewed. Specific considerations for assessment of these patients will be discussed, including the impacts of edema, inflammation, nerve damage, and pain. The evidence base for treatment strategies specific to cervical spine issues will be presented, and participants will be provided with an opportunity for problem-solving through case review.

This course is appropriate for dysphagia clinicians working in medical settings, including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care.