Exercise methods in the early stages of nasopharyngeal cancer

For chronic, long-term radiation reactions such as persistent dry mouth caused by salivary gland damage, difficulty opening the mouth caused by fibrosis of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints, and limited neck movement caused by fibrosis of the neck joint muscles, the focus is on active prevention and strengthening functional exercises. So, for patients with early nasopharyngeal cancer, how should they exercise?

1. Rinse with tea: Rinse your mouth with warm tea after each meal, alternating between cheek puffing and sucking, gargle thoroughly for 1 to 3 minutes to remove food residues between teeth, achieve the effect of cleaning teeth and maintaining oral hygiene.

2. Teeth tapping: Gently tap or clench the upper and lower teeth 2 to 3 times a day, about 100 times each time, and finally lick the periodontium with the tip of the tongue for 3 to 5 circles. This can strengthen the teeth, fully exercise the chewing muscles, and prevent their fibrosis.

3. Swallowing saliva: Swallowing saliva frequently can stimulate saliva secretion, moisten the throat, relieve dryness of the mouth and tongue, and exercise the tongue, teeth and cheek muscles to prevent degeneration of oral function.

4. Puffing up the cheeks: Close your lips and blow air outwards to make your cheeks puff up. Place the thumbs of both hands on the puffed cheeks and gently massage the cheeks and temporomandibular joints in a clockwise direction to prevent difficulty in opening the mouth caused by fibrosis of the temporomandibular joints and their surrounding muscle tissues.

5. Tongue flicking: Open your mouth slightly and bounce your tongue in your mouth. The movement of the tongue in the mouth can exercise its flexibility and prevent the tongue muscles from atrophy and functional degeneration.

6. Shaking your head: It can prevent neck tightness and limited neck movement caused by fibrosis of the neck joint muscles.

Nursing for nasopharyngeal cancer patients is a long process. Patients should be encouraged to keep exercising, including during the rehabilitation stage after discharge. We should do a good job of comforting and explaining to them, meet their reasonable needs, and enable them to cooperate with treatment in a good mental state.

The above is an introduction to exercise in the early stages of nasopharyngeal cancer. Correct exercise can help alleviate the condition and serve as an auxiliary role in treatment.