The effects of electrical stimulation treatment on adults with MS with swallowing problems

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). There are two arms in this study: 1) Treatment group receiving active stimulation 2) Control group receiving sham stimulation Treatment group: - Received active NMES (11.5 mA; range 9–16.5 mA)) + swallowing exercise - Swallowed every 20 seconds, for a total of 60 swallows per session - Were stimulated for 20 minutes per session, for a total of two sessions per week, for three consecutive weeks. The treatment study took place at the Communication Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic (CDTRC) at The University of Sydney. A speech pathologist (SLP) with 10 years’ experience contacted the participants in the treatment group and set a schedule for their treatment sessions. The SLP sent reminder text messages to the participants 2 days before the session. During the NMES treatment the SLP positioned two electrodes below the participant’s chin, specifically between the tip of the chin and the hyoid bone, in order to stimulate the floor of the mouth muscles. After placing the electrodes, the SLP set the stimulation. Participants in the treatment group were stimulated set just below the highest tolerable intensity to ensure muscle contraction, whereas in the control group participants were stimulated at a sensory level only, which did not elicit contraction of the targeted muscles. Participants in the treatment group, were instructed to swallow as hard as they could every time they felt the electric current, and to rest in between the cycles of stimulation. Participants in the control group were instructed to swallow as hard as they could every time they heard a beep sound from the NMES device, and to rest in between the cycles of stimulation. Thus, all participants had to swallow every 20 seconds, for a total of 60 swallows per session. Each participant was stimulated for 20 minutes per session, for a total of two sessions per week, for three consecutive weeks.