Point/Counterpoint: Electrical Stimulation for Dysphagia: The Argument for Electrical Stimulation for Dysphagia

This article is one side of the debate about the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES or “VitalStim”) in dysphagia treatment and presents the case supporting the use of this modality. I present published results of clinical trials examining the effectiveness of NMES and acknowledge some flaws in the trials. The evidence shows that, when added to traditional therapy, NMES makes a statistically significant positive difference for a variety of traditional treatment approaches to which it may be added.

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Preliminary outcomes in transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation use in patients with dysphagia

Romanian Journal of Rhinology ◽

10.2478/rjr-2018-0018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (31) ◽

pp. 167-174

Author(s):

Codrut Sarafoleanu ◽

Raluca Enache

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Congenital Abnormalities ◽

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽

Therapy Options ◽

Dysphagia Treatment ◽

Risk Of Aspiration

Abstract Dysphagia is a common disorder associated with a large number of etiologies like aging, stroke, traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, structural changes or congenital abnormalities. The type of the treatment and its results depend on the type, severity and the cause of dysphagia. The primary goal of dysphagia treatment is to improve the swallowing process and decrease the risk of aspiration. Along with the existing rehabilitation swallowing treatments, new adjunctive therapy options developed, one of them being the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The authors present the principles of NMES, a small literature review about the results of this therapy and their experience in using transcutaneous NMES in dysphagia patients.

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Effect of swallowing rehabilitation using traditional therapy, kinesiology taping and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on dysphagia in post-stroke patients: A randomized clinical trial

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery ◽

10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.107020 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107020

Author(s):

Ayş Güleç ◽

Ilknur Albayrak ◽

Ömer Erdur ◽

Kayhan Öztürk ◽

Funda Levendoglu

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Randomized Clinical Trial ◽

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Traditional Therapy ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Swallowing Rehabilitation

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Electromyogram-Related Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Restoring Wrist and Hand Movement in Poststroke Hemiplegia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair ◽

10.1177/1545968319826053 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 96-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Katia Monte-Silva ◽

Daniele Piscitelli ◽

Nahid Norouzi-Gheidari ◽

Marc Aureli Pique Batalla ◽

Philippe Archambault ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Motor Recovery ◽

Body Structure ◽

Short Term ◽

And Function

Background. Clinical trials have demonstrated some benefits of electromyogram-triggered/controlled neuromuscular electrical stimulation (EMG-NMES) on motor recovery of upper limb (UL) function in patients with stroke. However, EMG-NMES use in clinical practice is limited due to a lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness. Objective. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effects of EMG-NMES on stroke UL recovery based on each of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) domains. Methods. Database searches identified clinical trials comparing the effect of EMG-NMES versus no treatment or another treatment on stroke upper extremity motor recovery. A meta-analysis was done for outcomes at each ICF domain (Body Structure and Function, Activity and Participation) at posttest (short-term) and follow-up periods. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on stroke chronicity (acute/subacute, chronic phases). Sensitivity analysis was done by removing studies rated as poor or fair quality (PEDro score <6). Results. Twenty-six studies (782 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Fifty percent of them were considered to be of high quality. The meta-analysis showed that EMG-NMES has a robust short-term effect on improving UL motor impairment in the Body Structure and Function domain. No evidence was found in favor of EMG-NMES for the Activity and Participation domain. EMG-NMES had a stronger effect for each ICF domain in chronic (≥3 months) compared to acute/subacute phases. Conclusion. EMG-NMES is effective in the short term in improving UL impairment in individuals with chronic stroke.

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