Neuromuscular electrical and thermal-tactile stimulation for dysphagia caused by stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients with dysphagia caused by stroke.


METHODS
Thirty-six subjects were randomized into experimental and control groups. The control group was given thermal-tactile stimulation treatment only, while in the experimental group neuromuscular electrical stimulation and thermal-tactile stimulation treatments were applied simultaneously. Swallowing function was assessed before and 4 weeks after treatment, and evaluated via the swallow function scoring system, penetration-aspiration scale, and pharyngeal transit time. In addition, the discomfort score during the treatments and the satisfaction score 4 weeks after the treatments were measured.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight persons with dysphagia completed the study, 16 in the experimental group and 12 in the control group. Both groups showed improvement, but the experimental group showed more significant improvement in the swallow function scoring system, penetration-aspiration scale and pharyngeal transit time than the control group. The patient's discomfort score did not show statistically significant differences in either group, but the satisfactory score was higher in the experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with thermal-tactile stimulation is a better treatment for patients with swallowing disorders after stroke than thermal-tactile stimulation alone.
Lim
Kil-Byung
KB
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Goyang, Korea. kblim@paik.ac.kr
Lee
Hong-Jae
HJ
Lim
Sung-Shick
SS
Choi
Yoo-Im
YI
D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome