Review of the Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Dysphagia - An Update
German Medical Science
Miller, S., Peters, K., et al. (2022).
German Medical Science, 20, Doc08.
This systematic review investigates the effects of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) when applied to the anterior neck on swallowing outcomes in individuals with dysphagia.
AiF Project GmbH of the BMWi (Germany)
January 1, 2014 to May 5, 2021
Randomized controlled trials; clinical trials
18
<div>The majority of studies (12/14) investigating the effects of NMES in patients with dysphagia reported limited positive outcomes such as improved oral and pharyngeal transit time, increased hyoid bone movement, reduced aspiration, and improved oral feeding. Of the remaining studies, one reported a lack of positive change in suprahyoid muscles and the other study reported negative effects of NMES in patients with head and neck cancer.</div>
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<div>The authors conclude that overall NMES is effective for patients with dysphagia secondary to stroke, Parkinson's disease, or other brain injuries, especially when combined with traditional dysphagia therapy and/or effortful swallowing. Limited research is available regarding long-term effects. No one NMES parameter or protocol (e.g., electrode placement, therapy frequency) was determined to be the most effective. Additional research on different NMES protocols, parameters, and therapy settings for different patient populations is warranted.</div>
