The immediate effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on dysphagic stroke survivors′ initiation of swallowing / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the immediate effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the initiation of swallowing among stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Forty-two patients with delayed swallowing initiation were asked to eat 3 boluses of a thin liquid before and during NMES stimulation. The process was recorded and analyzed using a digital data acquisition and analysis system, including the initiation of the pharyngeal swallow (IPS), oral transit time (OTT), larynx closure duration (LCD), and pharynx transit time (PTT). They were also evaluated using the Rosenbek penetration-aspiration scale (PAS).Results:During NMES, significant improvement was observed in the average IPS, PAS and OTT results compared to before the intervention. There was, however, no significant difference in the average LCD or PTT. No obvious adverse reactions were observed during the stimulation.Conclusion:NMES has an immediate effect on improving IPS, PAS and OTT, and can be used as a new compensatory early treatment for stroke survivors with dysphagia.