Thermal tactile vs. neuromuscular electric stimulation in the rehabilitation of stroke–induced Ddsphagia

Abstract EN

Objective : to study the effect of neuromuscular electric stimulation on the swallow functional score in stroke patients having dysphagia and compare the effect of neuromuscular and thermal tactile stimulation on its rehabilitation.

Methodology : Fifty patients with dysphagia due to stroke were included.

They were divided into two equal groups according to the rehabilitation programs they received.

Group I received neuromuscular electric stimulation sessions on the neck one hour daily for 12 weeks.

Group II received tactile thermal stimulation on the anterior facial arch one hour daily for 12 weeks.

Swallow functional score for dysphagia assessment using the modified barium swallow (MBS) was done for both groups, at the start and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

Results : no statistically significant difference was detected between Groups I and II as regards the swallowing score at the start, 4 weeks and 8 weeks (p > 0.05).

But there was a statistically significant higher score at 12 weeks (p < 0.05).

There was a statistically significant higher change in the score from the start till 12 weeks in Group I as compared to Group II (p < 0.05).

Also, there was a higher dysphagia score with hemispherical lesions over the 12 weeks of rehabilitation program in Group I (p < 0.05) which was seen only in patients having chest problems in Group II (p < 0.05).

Conclusion : the electrical stimulation has the advantage of being Non-invasive and actively assisting swallowing.

Thus it can be used as an alternative treatment for dysphagia.

It also helps in the restoration of the normal swallowing mechanism and decreases the incidence of the subsequent complications of dysphagia.

Recommendations : to use neuromuscular electric stimulation of the neck muscles instead of thermal tactile stimulation in rehabilitation of dysphagia secondary to stroke.

Further studies are needed to detect its long term effect on dysphagia rehabilitation.