Exercise principles in dysphagia rehabilitation: Enter the MDTP approach

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.