European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECTIVENESS OF NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON IMPROVNG SWALLOWIG FUNCTION IN POST STROKE SUBJECTS WITH OROPHARYNGEAL DYSPHAGIA

Pilli Akshaya Madhuri*, Ilapandu Lakshmana Rao, Patchava Apparao, Kiran Prakash Pappala and Ganapathi Swamy Chintada

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common complication of a stroke which can impede participation in rehabilitation and has been associated with poor outcomes. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is one of the adjunct treatments of choice with conventional swallowing rehabilitation in physiotherapy. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NMES on oropharyngeal dysphagia and improving swallowing function in post Stroke subjects. Methods: Quasi experimental study design. 108 subjects with mean age of 58 years having a clinical diagnosis of Stroke with oropharyngeal dysphagia were allocated into two groups by using the convenience sampling method. In Group-A (n=54) subjects were treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation and conventional swallowing rehabilitation program, whereas in Group-B (n=54) subjects were treated with conventional swallowing rehabilitation. Participants were given interventions five times a week for 4 weeks. The outcomes of this intervention were measured by water swallowing test and Eating assessment tool. Results: Independent ‘t’ test was used to compare the mean significance difference between continuous variables. Paired ‘t’ test was used to assess the statistically significant difference pre and post test scores. Data analysis indicated significant improvement in both groups within, but the group using NMES alongside conventional swallowing rehab exhibited superior improvement compared to the standalone conventional program in between-group comparison. Conclusion:  Neuromuscular electrical stimulation along with conventional swallowing rehabilitation is more effective when compared to the conventional swallowing rehabilitation program alone. Thus, this study concludes that neuromuscular electrical stimulation is a useful adjunct in improving swallowing function along with rehabilitation. 

Keywords: Stroke, oropharyngeal dysphagia, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, conventional swallowing rehabilitation, water swallowing test, eating assessment tool.