What Is the Chin-down Posture? A Questionnaire Survey of Speech Language Pathologists in Japan and the United States

Authors: Okada, Sumiko¹; Saitoh, Eiichi; Palmer, Jeffrey; Matsuo, Koichiro; Yokoyama, Michio; Shigeta, Ritsuko; Baba, Mikoto

Source: Dysphagia, Volume 22, Number 3, July 2007 , pp. 204-209(6)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The “chin-down” or “chin-tuck” maneuver is a postural technique widely used in dysphagia treatment. The posture, however, does not have a precise anatomical definition. We studied the current practice of 42 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Japan and the U.S. with a questionnaire survey regarding the chin-down posture. The main findings were that (1) three of five of the pictures were selected by respondents both in Japan and in the U.S. as depicting the chin-down posture; (2) 23% of Japanese and 58% of the U.S. SLPs made a distinction between chin down and chin tuck; and (3) the use of anatomical terminology by SLPs differed between the two countries. This study showed that there is poor agreement among SLPs about the meaning of the chin-down and chin-tuck postures. Developing a precise definition is important because various postures may have differing physiologic effects.

Keywords: Chin-down postural technique; Functional anatomy; Dysphagia; Speech-language pathologist questionnaire; Deglutition; Deglutition disorders

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1007/s00455-006-9073-0

Affiliations: 1: Email: okadas@fujita-hu.ac.jp

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