Influence of Swallowing Exercises, Thermal Tactile Stimulation and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Treatment of Patients with Dysphagia Caused by Stroke

Inability to swallow also known as Dysphagia is a common condition in clinical settings, and is known to affect 45–65% of individuals sooner or later after stroke.it is believed to be the principle predisposing factor for the development of respiratory and pulmonary conditions counting pneumonia, and deteriorating the expected prognosis of the patient.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of surface electrical stimulation on infra hyoid muscles in comparison with the thermotactile stimulation both combined with swallowing exercises in stroke survivors with dysphagia.

A systematic random sampling was utilized to group the subjects, a number of Ten (n10) that was divided into two groups of 5 each, participated in the study where by the experimental group only infrahyoid muscles were stimulated. The study setting was SRM Hospital and different outside private clinics in a period of 2 months

Results of the current study shown a significant difference in group experimental group (Group A) which had a neuromuscular electrical stimulation on Infra-hyoid muscles and swallowing exercises than the control group that had only thermotactile stimulation and swallowing exercises.

This study concluded that Neuromuscular Electrical stimulation on infra-hyoid muscles combined with Swallowing exercises would be more effective treatment for patients who are having difficulties in swallowing especially after stroke while comparing it with other conventional treatments including thermotactile stimulation.