Are there exercises that strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter?

Thank you for sharing I am going to use this exercise!

I think that you may be misinterpreting the results of the study. Pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter generally does not "help the lower esophageal sphincter", but rather the pressure can further cause more LES leakage. The results of the study seem to indicate that those with GERD may want to avoid or limit leg raises.

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.

Hi, I read the study and not sure exactly how to do these exercises...is it just a matter of raising both legs to a 90 degree position and holding? How long do you think the position is held for?Thanks for your thoughts.

where did this exercise come from? Is there a book or sheet of such exercises? Would be great to have. Thanks for any insights.

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

Here is an account of a method that worked. Perhaps if your symptoms are similar it will help you. It’s at NCBI NLM NIH dot GOV
I am new and can’t post links yet, but if you copy this and search/Google it, you should find it.
A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Eliminate Gastroesophageal Reflux: An Autobiographical Case Report

The suggested exercise "A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter ..." seems counterintuitive to me, and I would think could cause worse reflux while doing it.

Especially if you have a hiatal hernia, I prefer the following exercise, which attempts to push the stomach down and out of the opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu2MQqS2ucY
I'm not sure if it works, would love to hear if others have had success with it..
If not doing this specified exercise then I find that it's helpful to walk briskly after drinking water on an empty stomach in the morning, and not to sit still too much after eating but move around.

Another type of adjustment for a hiatal hernia that I saw is: https://youtu.be/qofS1iVuwoQ . This seems more difficult to get right.

Also abdominal breathing is recommended: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22146488/
There are many videos out there on that. I also don't know if that helps, but it makes sense to remove pressure that causes the LES to open. (It reminds me of those squeeze coin purses, that when you squeeze the ends, it opens, but when you stop the squeeze it closes.)

Hi Diane, welcome.
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- A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Eliminate Gastroesophageal Reflux: An Autobiographical Case Report https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9106553/

What brings you to Mayo Clinic Connect? Are you also dealing with digestive and/or esophageal sphincter issues?

Hey all, I need help. Can someone please let me know if doing breathing exercises and yoga has helped with this?