Objective To determine positive effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in conventional dysphagia therapy on masseter muscle oral dysfunction of patients after subacute stroke.
Methods Among subacute stroke patients who were diagnosed as oropharyngeal dysphagia by videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS), those with oral dysfunction were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to a study group or a control group. The study group received NMES on masseter muscle and suprahyoid muscle simultaneously, while the control group received NMES only on suprahyoid muscle. NMES therapy session as applied 30 minutes each time, two times per day for a total of 20 sessions. Both groups received conventional dysphagia therapy for 2 weeks. All enrolled patients were evaluated by VFSS after 2 weeks. Oropharyngeal swallowing function was evaluated by Penetration-Aspiration Scale, Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS), and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System swallowing scale based on results of VFSS.
Results Patients were randomly assigned to the study group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or initial values between the two groups. After 2 weeks of NMES, both groups showed improvement in scores of total FDS and pharyngeal phase FDS. Additionally, the study group showed improvement in oral phase FDS. Changes in all measurements were similar between the two groups.
Conclusion In this preliminary study, NMES for masseter muscle has a therapeutic effect on oral dysfunction of patients after subacute stroke.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Dysphagia After Cosmetic Submandibular Gland Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A Injection: A Case Report Seoyon Yang, You Gyoung Yi Healthcare.2026; 14(2): 235. CrossRef
Effectiveness of Combined Rehabilitation Approaches in Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Ibrahim M. Alayaseh, Ponnusamy Subramaniam, Thanzeem Razak, Yaser S. Natour, Marissa A. Barrera, Shobha Sharma Dysphagia.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
EMG-Triggered Functional Electrical Stimulation for Central Facial Palsy Following Stroke: A Clinical Case Report Frauke Johannes, Anna Maria Pekacka-Egli, Simone Köhler, Andreas Disko, Jan von Meyenburg, Bartosz Bujan Brain Sciences.2025; 15(4): 410. CrossRef
Gum Chewing Exercise Synchronised With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is Better Than Gum Chewing Exercise Alone for Improving Masticatory Function and Mucosal Moisture in Older Adults With Sarcopenic Dysphagia Ji‐Su Park, Jong‐Bae Choi, Na‐Kyoung Hwang Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.2025; 52(9): 1420. CrossRef
Dysphagia after stroke: research advances in treatment interventions Bendix Labeit, Emilia Michou, Michaela Trapl-Grundschober, Sonja Suntrup-Krueger, Paul Muhle, Philip M Bath, Rainer Dziewas The Lancet Neurology.2024; 23(4): 418. CrossRef
The Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Swallowing Functions in Post-stroke Dysphagia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Elif Tarihci Cakmak, Ekin Ilke Sen, Can Doruk, Comert Sen, Selim Sezikli, Ayse Yaliman Dysphagia.2023; 38(3): 874. CrossRef
Effects of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on post-stroke dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis Yuhan Wang, Lu Xu, Linjia Wang, Minjiao Jiang, Ling Zhao Frontiers in Neurology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Statistical Power and Swallowing Rehabilitation Research: Current Landscape and Next Steps James C. Borders, Alessandro A. Grande, Michelle S. Troche Dysphagia.2022; 37(6): 1673. CrossRef
Therapeutic Effect and Optimal Electrode Placement of Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients with Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Thanh-Nhan Doan, Wen-Chao Ho, Liang-Hui Wang, Fei-Chun Chang, Trang Thi Quynh Tran, Li-Wei Chou Life.2022; 12(6): 875. CrossRef
The Facial Skin Blood Flow Change of Stroke Patients with Facial Paralysis after Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation: A Pilot Study Yongli Zhang, Shugeng Chen, Yinglu Ruan, Jiaying Lin, Chengdong Li, Chong Li, Shuo Xu, Zhijie Yan, Xiangyun Liu, Peng Miao, Jie Jia Brain Sciences.2022; 12(10): 1271. CrossRef
Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Masseter Muscle Thickness and Maximal Bite Force among Healthy Community-Dwelling Persons Aged 65 Years and Older: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Moon-Young Chang, Gihyoun Lee, Young-Jin Jung, Ji-Su Park International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(11): 3783. CrossRef
Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Synchronized with Chewing Exercises on Bite Force and Masseter Muscle Thickness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in South Korea: A Randomized Controlled Trial Ji-Su Park, Young-Jin Jung, Min-Ji Kim International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(13): 4902. CrossRef
Effectiveness of Different Application Parameters of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Dysphagia after a Stroke: A Systematic Review Isabel Diéguez-Pérez, Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez Journal of Clinical Medicine.2020; 9(8): 2618. CrossRef
Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Objective To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy on swallowing dysfunction in patients with chronic (more than 6 months) dysphagia caused by stroke. Method: A total of 16 patients with stroke-caused swallowing disorders based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were treated with NMES for two weeks. NMES was applied to the skin over the anterior neck muscles for one hour a day. Swallowing function was evaluated by the functional dysphagia scale using the VFSS, clinical dysphagia scale and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association National Outcomes Measurements System Swallowing Scale (ASHA NOMS scale) before and after electrical stimulation. Follow up VFSS was performed one month after intervention. Results: After completing ten treatment sessions, aspiration, reflex coughing and the total score in the clinical dysphagia scale were significantly decreased (p＜0.05). There was also a significant improvement in the ASHA NOMS scale (p＜ 0.05). Regarding the functional dysphagia scale, the residue in the valleculae and piriformis sinus, and total scores were significantly decreased (p＜0.05). Specifically, the scores of the pharyngeal phase were mainly decreased as compared to that of the oral phase. In addition, these effects were maintained one month after the intervention as measured with functional dysphagia scale. Conclusion: After ten sessions of NMES, we found improvement in dysphagia parameters in chronic dysphagia patients. Specifically, residue in the valleculae and piriformis sinus, and a parameter of the pharyngeal phase were significantly improved. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 636-641)
First
Prev
