Effects of Electrical Stimulation for Dysphagia Caused by Stroke

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the benefit of electrical stimulation for dysphagia caused by stroke. METHOD: Ten consecutive stroke patients with dysphagia for 3 months or more were enrolled in this study and assigned to one of the two group (electrical stimulation group or sham group) according to randomization table. Five patients were allocated to electrical stimulation group and 5 patients to sham group. One patient in the sham group dropped out because of transfer to other hospital. Electrical stimulation with a maximal tolerable intensity was applied on both digastric muscles and both thyrohyoid muscles for 1 hour, 5 days a week for 4weeks in electrical stimulation group. Sham group received electrical stimulation in same condition except stimulation intensity of 1 mA. Clinical dysphagia scale, functional dysphagia scale and kinematic analysis of hyoid bone movement were assessed at baseline (before treatment), 2 weeks later (during treatment), 4 weeks later (after treatment). RESULTS: The clinical dysphagia scale decreased in both group, of which the difference was not statistically significant. The functional dysphagia scale decreased significantly in the electrical stimulation group. The electrical stimulation group revealed greater improvement in clinical dysphagia scale and functional dysphagia scale compared to sham group. CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation therapy with a maximally tolerable intensity to digastric and thyroid muscles might be effective in chronic stroke patients with dysphagia.