Effect of Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) exercise upon swallowing ability of patients with cerebrovascular accident

Stroke is a life changing event. Dysphagia can be seen in 65% of the patients with stroke. In order to improve the overall outcome after stroke it is essential that the swallowing ability need to be improved through Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) Exercise.Aim: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) exercise in improvement of swallowing ability among CVA patients. Methods: A quasi- experimental study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance and setting permission. The data was collected after obtaining consent from 70 CVA patients, who were selected by consecutive sampling and were divided into control and experimental group. Pretest data was collected from both the groups by predetermined and pretested tools such as demographic variable performa, clinical variable proforma and GUSS (Gugging Swallowing Screen Scale) through interview and observation method. Chin Tuck Against Resistance Exercise was administered for 8 consecutive days, 3 times a day for experimental group of patients with CVA. Posttest assessment of swallowing ability was done in both the groups after the exercise. Results: Study findings revealed that there was no significant difference in mean pretest score of swallowing ability in the control group (M=4.37, S.D+2.95) and experimental group (M=5.43, S. D+2.93) with ‘t'value of 1.48 (p>0.05).Whereas, there was a significant difference in the posttest mean scores of swallowing ability in the experimental group (M=17.72, S.D+2.11) which was higher than control group (M=6.63,S.D+2.56) with't’ value of 18.85 (p<0.001).It can be affirmed that CTAR exercise seems to be the most effective and to improve suprahyoid muscle activity and tongue pressure Conclusion: Chin Tuck Against Resistance Exercise was helpful in improving the swallowing ability upon patients with CVA dysphagia.