Re-Educating Swallowing Muscles with Electric Stimulation
October 2003 — Speech and physical therapists at Memorial Regional Hospital have teamed up to help patients with swallowing impairments.
"When a patient has suffered a debilitating stroke or has undergone extensive cancer radiation therapy, the muscles that aid in swallowing can become restricted and prevent the patient from swallowing," says Holli Weinstein, MS, speech pathologist at Memorial Regional Hospital Fitness & Rehabilitation Center. "This often means the patient has to depend on feeding tubes for nutrition."
Fortunately, the outlook for these patients is changing, thanks to a new technique called neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
Easier to Swallow
"Through a team effort, a speech pathologist and a physical therapist co-treat the patient. The goal is to re-educate the muscles by combining the swallowing action with stimulation," says Weinstein.
During the procedure, electrodes are placed under the chin. These electrodes stimulate the throat muscles to close off the windpipe and cause an automatic swallowing action. The patient is taught to anticipate this action and is encouraged to swallow when stimulation occurs. This combined action re-educates the muscles and brain on how to swallow.
Specific Treatment
"The neuromuscular electrical stimulation device allows for very specific control of the intensity, duration and frequency of the treatment," says Melissa Lowry-Howland, MS, physical therapist at Memorial Regional Hospital Fitness & Rehabilitation Center. "We work with the patient to anticipate the contraction and release of the muscles and to swallow simultaneously."
Physical therapists control the parameters of the stimulation while they teach patients how to administer treatment themselves. A device is issued for the patient to use at home. "We also look at posture and soft tissue in this treatment methodology," says Lowry-Howland. "By working on posture and stretching and relaxing the throat and surrounding muscles, swallowing ability is improved."
Successful Track Record
Patients that have not responded well to traditional therapy have seen great success with this treatment. "We had one patient in particular who spent nine months on a feeding tube," says Lowry-Howland. "He came to us last September. By the end of November, he was ready to eat a Thanksgiving meal."
For referral to a physician, speech pathologist or physical therapist, call the Memorial Healthcare System Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS.