ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treatment according to the neuromuscularelectrical stimulation intensities in dysphagic patients. Methods : Fifty-six patients suffering from a subacute stroke were randomly assigned to either a motor stimulationgroup or a sensory stimulation group. Both groups underwent conventional dysphagia treatment, and differentintensities of the electrical stimulation was applied for 30 minutes, five days a week for six weeks. Theirswallowing function was evaluated using the VDS (Videofluoroscopic Dysphasia Scale) and PAS (Penetration-Aspiration Scale), and the L-tube removal rate was confirmed. Results : Both groups showed a statistically significant difference in the pharyngeal stage and PAS (p<.05), and theresult of the comparison of the two groups also showed a significant difference in the pharyngeal stage and PASafter the intervention (p<.05). Before and after intervention, the result of the change showed that the motorstimulation group was 12.58±8.15, the sensory stimulation group was 4.00± 5.07 in the pharyngeal stage, andthere were significant differences between the two groups (p<.05). The L -tube removal rate was 52% in themotor stimulation group, and 29% in the sensory stimulation group. Conclusion : This study showed that both motor and sensory stimulation are effective interventions for thepharyngeal stage in the swallowing function of dysphagic patients, and that motor stimulation is more effectivethan sensory stimulation.