Efficacy of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients with Dysphagia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background: Dysphagia is related to the change in the form of swallowing. People with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy, often have weak controlled movements. Difficulty with swallowing may have life-threatening consequences and can lead to an impaired quality of life. Hence, the aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) along with conventional occupational therapy to the conventional occupational therapy alone in patients with dysphagia. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of NMES along with conventional occupational therapy versus conventional occupational therapy alone in patients with dysphagia. Study Design: An experimental randomized controlled study design. Methods: Eighty patients with neurological disorders who had dysphagia were included in the study. Patients in the experimental group received 60 min of conventional occupational therapy along with NMES. Patients in the control group received 60 min of conventional occupational therapy alone. Outcome measures were Functional Oral Intake Scale, Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale, and Swallowing-related Quality of Life (Swal-QoL). Follow-up assessment was performed after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of intervention. Results: Post hoc comparison was performed by Bonferroni t -test. Changes in the parameters at 4 th weeks and 8 th weeks from the baseline between two groups were compared by independent t -test for normalized data and Mann–Whitney test for nonnormalized data. P <0.05 was considered a statistical level of significance at the outset of the study. Patients analyzed in the experimental group were n = 32 and in the control group were n = 35. There were significant improvement found in experimental group in components of Oral Intake scale(mean ± standard deviation = 0.37 ± 0.49, 0.91 ± 0.65), Dysphagia severity scale (0.56 ± 0.50, 1.37 ± 0.66, P = 0.0001) and Swallowing Quality of Life scale (5.32 ± 11.65) with CI value 95%, P = 0.0001 and no adverse reactions to therapy were observed. Conclusions: NMES along with conventional occupational therapy was found to be efficacious than conventional occupational therapy alone in dysphagia.