Exercise principles in dysphagia rehabilitation: Enter the MDTP approach
Swallowing is something most of us rarely think about, until it becomes difficult. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can significantly affect a person’s health, independence, and overall quality of life. For many adults with dysphagia, therapy that goes beyond compensatory strategies is crucial for creating meaningful and lasting change.
One evidence-based approach gaining recognition internationally is the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP). As part of Network Speech Pathology’s commitment to high-quality, research-driven care, Brie recently completed MDTP training to bring these principles directly into clinical practice.
In this post, we explore what MDTP is, why exercise-based rehabilitation matters, and how this approach can support stronger, safer, and more efficient swallowing.
What is MDTP?
The McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP) is an intensive, systematic, exercise-based swallowing therapy program created to help individuals rebuild and strengthen their swallowing function. Unlike traditional dysphagia therapy that may rely heavily on compensatory strategies such as posture changes, diet modification, or adaptive utensils, MDTP focuses on rehabilitating the swallow itself.
Key features of MDTP include:
A hierarchy of swallowing exercises that progressively challenge the muscles involved in swallowing.
Daily, intensive practice with both clinical and home-based swallow work.
Consistent, measurable progression to ensure therapy targets the underlying physiology.
A focus on functional swallowing, using real foods and liquids when appropriate, not just isolated muscle exercises.
The goal of MDTP is to strengthen the swallowing mechanism through refining swallow form, then increasing targeted workload, just like strengthening any other muscle system in the body.
Why Exercise-Based Principles Matter in Swallowing Therapy:
Swallowing engages over 30 muscles across the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and oesophagus, all working together with precise timing and coordination. Like any muscle groups, these structures respond to overload, repetition, intensity and task specificity. MDTP uses these same principles of exercise science to rebuild swallowing strength and coordination.
Our Commitment to Evidence-Based Dysphagia Care
At Network Speech Pathology, we believe in providing therapy that is:
Person-centred
Evidence-driven
Functional
Goal-focused
Brie’s completion of MDTP training enhances our ability to deliver intensive, exercise-based dysphagia rehabilitation that is grounded in research and tailored to each individual’s needs. If you or someone you support is experiencing swallowing difficulties, our team can help assess swallowing function and determine whether an exercise-based approach like MDTP is appropriate.
