Sore throat? These exercises can help you recover faster
What's the story
Gargling is a well-known and easy method to keep your throat healthy, particularly during the cold and flu season.
However, what many people don't realize is that pairing gargling with special throat exercises can greatly amplify its effectiveness.
These exercises work by strengthening the muscles around your throat, fortifying it against infections, and enhancing your throat's overall function.
Humming
Humming for throat muscle strength
Humming is not only a fun way to carry a tune, but it's also a great workout for your throat.
By humming regularly, you're basically doing throat push-ups.
You're working out and strengthening your throat muscles.
This activity promotes blood circulation to the throat area, assisting in inflammation reduction and making gargling more effective.
Yawning
The power of yawning
Yawning is often an involuntary action, but did you know that consciously yawning as an exercise can benefit your throat?
When you yawn intentionally, you're essentially stretching the muscles in your throat and jaw.
This stretching can help release tension and promote circulation in the throat area, enhancing the effects of gargling.
Tongue stretching
Tongue stretching exercises
The tongue is a key player in the throat's "team" of muscles used for swallowing and speaking.
By regularly sticking out your tongue as far as you can or doing side-to-side "tongue exercises," you can strengthen these associated muscles.
Stronger muscles in the tongue and throat area improve gargling effectiveness by facilitating better fluid dynamics during the process.
Jaw dropping
Jaw dropping for throat health
Holding your mouth open as wide as possible, as though you're mid-yawn but keeping it open, will strengthen both your jaw and throat muscles.
This aptly named "jaw dropping" exercise enhances flexibility and muscle strength around your mouth and upper throat area - the same regions crucial for effective gargling.
Neck rotation
Neck rotation exercises
You have to gently rotate your head from one side to another and move it back and forth.
While this exercise doesn't directly target the inner parts of your throat, it aids by reducing tension around neck muscles connected to those of the upper respiratory tract, including those used during gargling.