Respiratory muscle strength training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation in subacute dysphagic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Adding IEMT to SST was an effective, feasible, and safe approach that improved respiratory muscle strength. Both IEMT and NMES were associated with improvement in pharyngeal swallowing security signs at the end of the intervention, but the effect did not persist at 3-month follow-up and no differences in respiratory complications were detected between treatment groups and controls.

Combined electrical stimulation and exercise for swallow rehabilitation post‐stroke: a pilot randomized control trial

“…Of the four studies that did look at long‐term follow‐up, two found no long‐term effect at 12 weeks (Terre and Mearin , Guillen‐Sola et al . ) and two found a lasting effect: Sun et al . () found sustained benefit at 24 months post‐treatment (in a ‘preliminary case series’) and Lee et al .…”

Efficacy of Interventions to Improve Respiratory Function After Stroke

“…The 17 included trials involved 616 participants and investigated the effects of 5 modalities of interventions delivered to improve respiratory function after stroke. Eleven trials compared experimental interventions versus no intervention, 14,16,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] 3 compared to sham interventions, [34][35][36] and 3 of the studies compared 2 different modalities of respiratory interventions. [37][38][39] The characteristics of the included trials are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…13 These variables have been commonly used to reflect respiratory function and evaluate the effectiveness of various types of interventions in people with stroke. [14][15][16] Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, 14 transcranial magnetic stimulation, 15 breathing exercises (breathing/chest expansion/diaphragmatic exercises), 16 and respiratory muscle training 6 are examples of applied interventions, which have the potential to improve respiratory function. These interventions may increase the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles, speed of contractions and power outputs, diaphragm thickness, and lung volumes and flows.…”

“…These interventions may increase the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles, speed of contractions and power outputs, diaphragm thickness, and lung volumes and flows. 6,[14][15][16] Thus, the knowledge of the most effective interventions is fundamental for professionals because this information may help them integrate the best research evidence into their clinical practice. This, when associated with clinical expertise and client preferences, will produce appropriate and effective services.…”

“…3,6,19,20 The results indicated that respiratory muscle training resulted in increased strength of the inspiratory (7 cm H 2 O) 6,19 and expiratory (13 cm H 2 O) muscles 6 and improved lung function, such as FVC (2.0 L). 19 Although numerous randomized clinical trials [14][15][16] have investigated the effects of other interventions aimed at improving respiratory function in people with stroke, there were no systematic reviews found that summarized the current evidence. In addition, improvements in impairments related to respiratory function have the potential to reduce activity-related symptoms, such as dyspnea, and the benefits could be carried over to everyday activities, due to more efficient use of the respiratory muscles in activities of daily living.…”