Why can't IBurp?A free UK guide to R-CPD

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How to burp when you can't: the tricks people try, and what the evidence says

By the Why Can't I Burp team. Published 11 November 2026. Updated 11 November 2026. 6 min read.

Burt trying a wobbly headstand on a yoga mat, with a water bottle and a lemon slice beside him

Quick summary

If you've ever googled how to burp when you can't, you'll know the internet is full of ideas. Gulp air. Drink something fizzy. Lie down. Do neck exercises. Stand on your head (please don't). So what actually works? Let's look at the tricks people try, and what the research says.

Why some people can't burp at all

For most people, a burp is easy. Air comes up from the stomach, a ring of muscle at the top of the food pipe opens, and out it pops.

With R-CPD (retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction), that muscle opens for swallowing but not for air (opens in a new tab). So you can't just "try harder". It's not about effort, which is why the usual tricks often don't work.

The tricks people try

Fizzy drinks

This is the classic "make yourself burp" tip. But with R-CPD it can backfire. A UK doctor found symptoms are worse with fizzy drinks and beer (opens in a new tab). In a study of children, all 5 got worse with fizzy drinks (opens in a new tab).

One specialist even says to skip fizzy drinks on the day of your Botox (opens in a new tab), because the burps take a few days to arrive.

Lying on your left side

This one won't give you a burp, but it might give you a break. In one UK study, some people got short-term relief by lying on their left side for about an hour (opens in a new tab). The air moves down instead, and leaves as wind. Not glamorous, but it can ease the pressure.

Gagging yourself

The same study says some people force a burp by putting a finger at the back of the throat (opens in a new tab). We'd gently say: please don't make a habit of this. It's unpleasant, it can make you gag, and it doesn't fix the cause. Talk to your GP instead.

Neck and "burp training" exercises

Online, you'll find lots of exercises and "burp training" routines. A 2026 review noticed this too. It found lots of social media stories of exercises, biofeedback and talking therapies helping (opens in a new tab).

The idea behind most of them is to use neck exercises to help the valve open, and time it with the gurgles (opens in a new tab). Some people say these help both without Botox and when Botox only partly worked (opens in a new tab).

You might also see the "Shaker exercise" (a head lift you do lying on your back). Dr Bastian, who first named R-CPD, has a video explaining his thinking about Shaker exercises (opens in a new tab).

Want the details? Our Without Botox section explains each technique step by step, including the Shaker exercise, side neck sit ups and relaxing into the burp, with a count of what worked for people on r/noburp.

So what does the evidence say?

Here's the honest bit. The 2026 review found that, apart from one case where hypnosis helped, there are no published reports of R-CPD going away other than with Botox or surgery (opens in a new tab). It said more research is needed on how many people could be helped by therapy like this (opens in a new tab).

That doesn't mean exercises never help. It means nobody has properly tested them yet. Many people in online groups like r/noburp (opens in a new tab) swap tips, and some say they've had success. But stories aren't the same as studies.

There is one small, promising study. A US clinic taught 7 people special positions to help the burp out, such as lowering the voice box, pushing the jaw forward and turning and tucking the head (opens in a new tab). These were people Botox hadn't fully helped. Six of the seven got lasting relief (opens in a new tab) using Botox plus this training. The authors called it a promising extra option (opens in a new tab) alongside Botox, not instead of it.

What actually works best?

Right now, the treatment with the most evidence is Botox (a medicine that relaxes a muscle for a while), put into the tight muscle. In a study of 200 people, 99.5% could burp after treatment (opens in a new tab).

After Botox, little tricks can help the burps along. One specialist says some people tuck the chin, turn the head to one side, or lower the voice box as if yawning (opens in a new tab). The idea is to help the burp happen, not force it (opens in a new tab).

Can cutting down on air help?

Maybe a bit. The 2026 review suggests people who swallow less air and skip fizzy drinks may have fewer symptoms (opens in a new tab). It won't cure R-CPD, but it might make days easier while you wait for treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How can I force myself to burp?

If you have R-CPD, forcing a burp often doesn't work, because the muscle won't open for air (opens in a new tab). Gentle positions may help a little, but see your GP about treatment.

Do exercises cure R-CPD?

Not as far as we know yet. A 2026 review found no published reports of R-CPD going away with exercises alone (opens in a new tab).

Do fizzy drinks help you burp if you have R-CPD?

Usually not. For many people, fizzy drinks make symptoms worse (opens in a new tab).

What is the best treatment if you can't burp?

Botox into the tight muscle. Almost everyone could burp after it (opens in a new tab) in one large study.

Key points

Read next: Without Botox: what else people try · Treatment · What is R-CPD? · Recovery

This is a free resource and not medical advice. Speak to your GP.

Sources

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