Abstract
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for treating dysphagia is a relatively new therapeutic method. There is a paucity of evidence about the use of NMES in patients with dysphagia caused by stroke. The present review aimed to introduce and discuss studies that have evaluated the efficacy of this method amongst dysphagic patients following stroke with emphasis on the intensity of stimulation (sensory or motor level) and the method of electrode placement on the neck. The majority of the reviewed studies describe some positive effects of the NMES on the neck musculature in the swallowing performance of poststroke dysphagic patients, especially when the intensity of the stimulus is adjusted at the sensory level or when the motor electrical stimulation is applied on the infrahyoid muscles during swallowing.
Highlights
Diverse paramedical treatments for swallowing disorders usually carried out by speech and language pathologists (SLPs) are introduced in the literature
When these treatments are evaluated by scientific methods according to standards of evidence-based practice, lots of unanswered questions emerge [2] about the efficacy of them, dose-response effects, and certain populations who respond to each method well
The present review aimed to introduce and discuss studies that have evaluated the efficacy of this method amongst dysphagic patients following stroke with emphasis on the intensity of stimulation and the method of electrode placement on the neck
Summary
Diverse paramedical treatments for swallowing disorders usually carried out by speech and language pathologists (SLPs) are introduced in the literature. The present review aimed to introduce and discuss studies that have evaluated the efficacy of this method amongst dysphagic patients following stroke with emphasis on the intensity of stimulation (sensory or motor level) and the method of electrode placement on the neck. These two parameters can have important effects on the outcomes, but they had not been considered by the previous published reviews [3, 5,6,7]. Some factors and conditions toward designing further studies are proposed in this regard
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
