Swallowing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

What is Swallowing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation?

Swallowing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is a medical device combining 2 important technologies: the detection of muscle signals (sEMG Biofeedback) and electrical stimulation (Electrical Stimulation), used to rehabilitate patients with difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia) and abnormality of the muscles around the face and the throat.

The principle of the therapy

The therapy device with a biofeedback system and electrical stimulation has the function of receiving and analysing the surface electromyographic signal (sEMG), in order to use it in biofeedback training and in therapy with electrical stimulation.

• Biofeedback: receiving the EMG signal through electrode pads placed on the body in order to analyse the working of the muscle
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES): using an electric current to help stimulate the working of the muscle directly
• Myoelectrically Triggered stimulation: the system releases the stimulating electric current when it detects that the patient has begun to exert the muscle themselves, helping the brain and the muscle work together better
• Contralateral Controlled: using the signal from the normal muscle to help command and train the muscle with the problem

Whom is it suited to? It is designed to care for problems of abnormality of the muscles and the nervous system in several cases:

• Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia): helping train the muscles used in swallowing to work safely again
• Abnormality of the mouth and the throat: including various conditions around the head and the throat
• Injury of the nervous system: abnormality from injury of the central or peripheral nerves
• Weakness of the muscle: both general abnormality of muscle working and wasting of the muscle from stroke (Stroke)
• Delayed development: helping stimulate where development in movement is not according to age

Why choose Swallowing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation?

• Seeing the result on the screen: the patient can see the working of their own muscle immediately through the Biofeedback system, which makes the training more effective
• Safe and specialised: it releases an electric wave suited particularly to the muscles around the throat
• Enjoyable training with therapeutic games: there are as many as 6 forms of training game, in order to reduce boredom and encourage people to want to train continuously

The steps of the therapy

• Assessing the muscle: attaching electrode pads to receive and analyse the muscle signal (sEMG), together with issuing a preliminary report of the working
• Training swallowing through a game: therapy with the biofeedback system through a game, so that the training is precise and not boring
• Intelligent electrical stimulation: sending an electric current to help raise the larynx in time with the real rhythm of swallowing, the device working when it detects that the patient has begun to exert themselves
• Recording and following up the result: showing the result on a touch screen and recording a report of the progress

Safety and points to be careful of

• It cannot be used to treat difficulty swallowing arising from a tumour, or from an anatomical cause that must be treated with surgery
• It suits only difficulty swallowing arising from stroke (Stroke), injury of the brain, or weakness of the muscle after radiotherapy and surgery
• The device releases an electric wave adjusted to be safe and suited particularly to the muscles around the front of the throat
• It is used for repeated muscle training (Muscle retraining) according to the plan of treatment of the doctor or the therapist

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Swallowing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation?

A: It is the use of a gentle electric current to stimulate the muscles and nerves around the throat, in order to train the muscle to be strong and return to swallowing normally.

Q: Is it painful?

A: The device uses a specialised electric wave (Proportional Square Wave) that is safe and suited to the muscles of the throat; only a tingling or a contraction of the muscle is felt.

Q: How often and for how long does it have to be done?

A: In general a session is 20-30 minutes, about 2-3 times a week, depending on the assessment of the therapist.

Q: Whom does this treatment suit?

A: Patients with difficulty swallowing from stroke (Stroke), injury of the brain (TBI), or weakness of the muscle.

Q: Safety and points to be careful of?

A: It is safe when under the care of a therapist, but it must not be used in those with an obstructing tumour, with a pacemaker (Pacemaker) fitted, or with an open wound around the throat.