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Are there exercises that strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter?
Digestive Health | Last Active: Mar 30 12:21pm | Replies (63)Comment receiving replies
Good question @pd02. According to this article by LiveStrong the lower esophageal sphincter doesn't respond to exercises http://www.livestrong.com/article/312504-lower-esophageal-sphincter-exercise/
"The upper esophageal sphincter can respond favorably to isometric and isokinetic neck extensions, but no physical exercise exists to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter. By lifting and holding the neck from a supine position for 60 seconds at a time, you create enough tension in the muscle associated with the upper esophageal sphincter that it can strengthen the valve. Doing a similar lift and holding within the abdominal region of the body cannot provide the same results for the lower esophageal sphincter."
This article http://www.everydayhealth.com/gerd/take-a-deep-breath-for-gerd-relief.aspx cites a "small study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology showed that participants who learned breathing techniques to strengthen the diaphragm had less reflux over time than those who didn’t get the training."
Has anyone has success with such breathing exercises? cc @jafd @dandl48 @cbs61752
Replies to "Good question @pd02. According to this article by LiveStrong the lower esophageal sphincter doesn't respond to..."
Interesting article and it couldn't hurt as a adjunct to your prescribed meds. But please note the 1st sentence where it says " if you have mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your breathing could play a role in your overall treatment plan. I don't have "mild" GERD and most people here don't.
But leg raises help the lower esophageal sphincter per this study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27634073 "Leg raise increases pressure in lower and upper esophageal sphincter among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease."
I have recently was diagnosed with hiatal hernia. I have not had an “attack “ since October 17! I cut out all artificial sweetener. I cut back on carbonated beverages. (Haven’t been able to completely gid rid of my soft drinks.) I stopped drinking through a straw and I don’t talk while I eat. I do some deep breathing exercises , especially belly breathing. Yoga cat/cows gave me relief when I was having an attack. Laying on the floor and drawing my knees to my chest also helped. I don’t know if it’s coincidental or if it’s really helping. So I think it’s possible that SOME types exercise and breathing may help.
A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Eliminate Gastroesophageal Reflux: An Autobiographical Case Report. Cureus 14(4): e24122. doi:10.7759/cureus.24122
Hello. I am not finding....“The upper esophageal sphincter can respond favorably to isometric and isokinetic neck extensions, but no physical exercise exists to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter...." within the Livestrong article you share. As I read this article I find this, "How can such exercises work? According to Nefarati Ellis-Marin, DPT, a physical therapist with Mount Sinai West, posture and body mechanics over time can affect the diaphragm, and it's possible to re-educate the body so that the diaphragm and, in turn, the LES, work better." I see that this doesn't say it actually strengthens the ELS, but that somehow breathing exercises help your diaphragm and ELS function better. I'm not finding your quote in the article. Will you please help? Thank you.
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Thank you, Colleen Young, for the articles. The second article again has referred me to yoga meditation. Some doctors in Kathmandu have suggested that kapalvati and bhastrika breathing may help the LES. I just wanted to make sure.
Thanks anyway.