Article

The Effects of Electrical Stimulation on the Neck Muscles of Patients with a Swallowing Disorder Caused by a Stroke

Author

신수정(Su-Jung Shin), 박정미(Jeong-Mee Park), 이동욱(Dong-Wook Lee), 정민애(Min-Ye Jung), 유은영(Eun-Young Yoo), 유문기(Mun-Ki Ryu)

Information

pp. 17~28 / 2009 Vol.17 No.2

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on the neck muscles in the swallowing function of stroke patients with dysphagia. Methods : Eighteen stroke patients who are able to understand verbal commands and express themselves were recruited, based on the video-fluoroscopic findings of their swallowing difficulties. After two weeks of an observational period for spontaneous recovery, electrical stimulation during a one hour session each day, five days a week for four weeks was applied to the patients' neck muscles (digastic M., thyrohyoid M.). Their swallowing functions were evaluated using a functional dysphagia scale and pharyngeal transit time with a video-fluoroscopic swallowing study. The author compared the above initial data with the every- two-week follow-up data using a paired t test and repeated ANOVA measure, of which a significant level is below p=.05. Results : There was no natural recovery during the control stage (p>.05). After terminating treatment, the participants showed significant improvement in the functional dysphagia scale (p=.000) and had significantly reduced residue in their valleculae and piriform sinuses (p<.05). However, pharyngeal transit time did not show any difference between pre- and post-treatments (p>.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that electrical stimulation has positive effects on swallowing disorders caused by brain injuries and can be clinically used as a safe treatment method for dysphagia. In future studies, a long-term treatment of more than four weeks with a follow up should be conducted.

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