**1. Introduction**

174 New Advances in the Basic and Clinical Gastroenterology

Khurram Z, Chou E, Minutello R, et al. Combination therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel and

bleeding. J Invasive Cardiol. 2006;18:162– 4.

warfarin following coronary stenting is associated with a significant risk of

In recent years, a growing interest in functional gastrointestinal problems can be noticed. In Western Europe, there is prevalence of functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in nearly 40% of the population. In Great Britain, 8 to 10% of patients visiting general practitioners have gastrointestinal problems, and approximately 50% of these are functional disorders (Becker & Aroldo, 1990). In the United States, 14% of the population are treated annually for functional gastrointestinal disorders, and in 50 to 70% of patients sent to a gastroenterologist, no significant pathology is detected (Mathias & Clench, 1995).

One of the seldom explored disability symptoms related to functional gastrointestinal problems are swallowing dysfunctions that are difficult to verify and quantify. Swallowing problems are often underestimated and attributed to psychological problems or negative mechanical effects of spinal morphological changes. The aim of our overview is to describe in detail the relationship between clinical disability of locomotor system and functional dysphagia.
