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Evaluation of Neuromuscular Electronic Stimulation on Dysphagia
Author(s) -
Miller Megan M,
Barnes Larry,
Latman Neal S
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a400-b
Subject(s) - dysphagia , medicine , swallowing , muscle strength , stimulation , hyoid bone , pharyngeal muscles , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anesthesia , surgery
Dysphagia can severely affect health and survival. Traditional treatments, including muscle exercises and compensatory strategies, have limited effectiveness. Neurological swallowing problems account for 30% of cases requiring home enteral tube feeding and only 19% return to full oral nutrition in one year. One potential treatment solution is the use of neuromuscular electronic stimulation (NMES). The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of a NMES device (VitalStim) on strength of laryngeal muscle groups used for swallowing. The subject was an 86 year old female with age‐associated dysphagia. NMES treatment was given during lunch for 45 minutes, 5 days a week for 5 weeks. NMES was increased from 11 to 22 milli‐amperes over the 5 week period as tolerated by the subject. Effect of treatment on supra‐hyoid and infra‐hyoid muscle group strength was determined pre and post prandial by electromyography. Average muscle strength of supra‐ and infra‐hyoid muscle groups improved with treatment through the 4 th week of treatment. During the 4 th week of treatment, the post prandial strength in both muscle groups reached their peak. During the 5 th week, average muscle strength decreased significantly in both muscle groups. This case indicated that the NMES appeared to improve muscle strength during the first 4 weeks of treatment. However, in the 5 th week, muscle strength regressed almost to pre‐treatment levels. The cause of this decrease was not clear.