Effect of 45° reclining sitting posture on swallowing in patients with dysphagia

Purpose: To determine the effect of a 45° reclining sitting posture on swallowing in patients with dysphagia. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four patients with dysphagia were evaluated. Videofluoroscopic swallowing study was performed for each patient in 90° upright and in 45° reclining sitting posture. Patients swallowed 5 types of boluses twice: sequentially 2 mL thin liquid, 5 mL thin liquid, thick liquid, yogurt, and cooked rice. Data such as the penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), oral transit time (OTT), pharyngeal delay time (PDT), pharyngeal transit time (PTT), residue in valleculae and pyriform sinuses, premature bolus loss, and nasal penetration were obtained. Results: The mean PAS on the 2 mL thin liquid decreased significantly in the 45° reclining sitting posture (p=0.007). The mean PAS on 5 mL thin liquid in the 45° reclining sitting posture showed decreasing tendency. The residue in valleculae decreased significantly for all boluses in the 45° reclining sitting posture (p<0.001, p=0.002, p=0.003, p<0.001, p=0.020, respectively). The residue in pyriform sinuses increased significantly on 5 mL thin liquid, thick liquid, and yogurt (p=0.031, p=0.020, p=0.002, respectively). There were no significant differences in OTT, PDT, PTT, premature bolus loss, and nasal penetration between both postures. Conclusion: PAS on 2 mL thin liquid and residue in valleculae on all types of boluses were decreased in a 45° reclining sitting posture. Therefore, we believe that the 45° reclining sitting posture on swallowing is beneficial for the patients with penetration or aspiration on small amounts of thin liquid and large amounts of residue in valleculae.