Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Kinematic Effects of Hyolaryngeal Electrical Stimulation Therapy on Hyoid Excursion and Laryngeal Elevation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Dysphagia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of repeated sessions of electrical stimulation therapy (EST) on the neck muscles with respect to the stimulation site by using quantitative kinematic analysis of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) in dysphagia patients with acquired brain injury. We analyzed 50 patients in a tertiary hospital who were randomly assigned into two different treatment groups. One group received EST on the suprahyoid muscle only (SM), and the other group received stimulation with one pair of electrodes on the suprahyoid muscle and the other pair on the infrahyoid muscle (SI). All patients received 10–15 sessions of EST over 2–3 weeks. The VFSS was carried out before and after the treatment. Temporal and spatial parameters of the hyoid excursion and laryngeal elevation during swallowing were analyzed by two-dimensional motion analysis. The SM group (n = 25) revealed a significant increase in maximal anterior hyoid excursion distance (mean ± SEM = 1.56 ± 0.52 mm, p = 0.008) and velocity (8.76 ± 3.42 mm/s, p = 0.017), but there was no significant increase laryngeal elevation. The SI group (n = 25), however, showed a significant increase in maximal superior excursion distance (2.09 ± 0.78 mm, p = 0.013) and maximal absolute excursion distance (2.20 ± 0.82 mm, p = 0.013) of laryngeal elevation, but no significant increase in hyoid excursion. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to changes in maximal anterior hyoid excursion distance (p = 0.130) and velocity (p = 0.254), and maximal distance of superior laryngeal elevation (p = 0.525). EST on the suprahyoid muscle induced an increase in anterior hyoid excursion, and infrahyoid stimulation caused an increase in superior laryngeal elevation. Hyolaryngeal structural movements were increased in different aspects according to the stimulation sites. Targeted electrical stimulation based on pathophysiology is necessary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ashford J, McCabe D, Wheeler-Hegland K, Frymark T, Mullen R, Musson N, Schooling T, Hammond CS. Evidence-based systematic review: oropharyngeal dysphagia behavioral treatments. Part III—impact of dysphagia treatments on populations with neurological disorders. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46:195–204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Freed ML, Freed L, Chatburn RL, Christian M. Electrical stimulation for swallowing disorders caused by stroke. Respir Care. 2001;46:466–74.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Leelamanit V, Limsakul C, Geater A. Synchronized electrical stimulation in treating pharyngeal dysphagia. Laryngoscope. 2002;112:2204–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Permsirivanich W, Tipchatyotin S, Wongchai M, Leelamanit V, Setthawatcharawanich S, Sathirapanya P, Phabphal K, Juntawises U, Boonmeeprakob A. Comparing the effects of rehabilitation swallowing therapy vs. neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy among stroke patients with persistent pharyngeal dysphagia: a randomized controlled study. J Med Assoc Thai. 2009;92:259–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ludlow CL, Humbert I, Saxon K, Poletto C, Sonies B, Crujido L. Effects of surface electrical stimulation both at rest and during swallowing in chronic pharyngeal dysphagia. Dysphagia. 2007;22:1–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Matsuo K, Palmer JB. Anatomy and physiology of feeding and swallowing: normal and abnormal. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2008;19:691–707.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Suiter DM, Leder SB, Ruark JL. Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on submental muscle activity. Dysphagia. 2006;21:56–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Humbert IA, Poletto CJ, Saxon KG, Kearney PR, Crujido L, Wright-Harp W, Payne J, Jeffries N, Sonies BC, Ludlow CL. The effect of surface electrical stimulation on hyolaryngeal movement in normal individuals at rest and during swallowing. J Appl Physiol. 2006;101:1657–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Park JW, Kim Y, Oh JC, Lee HJ. Effortful swallowing training combined with electrical stimulation in post-stroke dysphagia: a randomized controlled study. Dysphagia. 2012;27:521–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Park JW, Oh JC, Lee HJ, Park SJ, Yoon TS, Kwon BS. Effortful swallowing training coupled with electrical stimulation leads to an increase in hyoid elevation during swallowing. Dysphagia. 2009;24:296–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Martin L, Cometti G, Pousson M, Morlon B. Effect of electrical stimulation training on the contractile characteristics of the triceps surae muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1993;67:457–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Valli P, Boldrini L, Bianchedi D, Brizzi G, Miserocchi G. Effect of low intensity electrical stimulation on quadriceps muscle voluntary maximal strength. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2002;42:425–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wijting Y, Freed ML. Vitalstim therapy training manual. Hixson: Chattanooga Group; 2003. p. 103–9.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bulow M, Speyer R, Baijens L, Woisard V, Ekberg O. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in stroke patients with oral and pharyngeal dysfunction. Dysphagia. 2008;23:302–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Carnaby-Mann GD, Crary MA. Adjunctive neuromuscular electrical stimulation for treatment-refractory dysphagia. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008;117:279–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Seo HG, Oh BM, Han TR. Longitudinal changes of the swallowing process in subacute stroke patients with aspiration. Dysphagia. 2011;26:41–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Prosiegel M, Heintze M, Sonntag EW, Schenk T, Yassouridis A. Kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements in patients with neurogenic dysphagia before and after swallowing rehabilitation. Dysphagia. 2000;15:173–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Paik NJ, Kim SJ, Lee HJ, Jeon JY, Lim JY, Han TR. Movement of the hyoid bone and the epiglottis during swallowing in patients with dysphagia from different etiologies. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2008;18:329–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kang BS, Oh BM, Kim IS, Chung SG, Kim SJ, Han TR. Influence of aging on movement of the hyoid bone and epiglottis during normal swallowing: a motion analysis. Gerontology. 2010;56:474–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hsu SS, Hu MH, Wang YH, Yip PK, Chiu JW, Hsieh CL. Dose-response relation between neuromuscular electrical stimulation and upper-extremity function in patients with stroke. Stroke. 2010;41:821–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Pearson WG Jr, Langmore SE, Zumwalt AC. Evaluating the structural properties of suprahyoid muscles and their potential for moving the hyoid. Dysphagia. 2010;26:345–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Glinsky J, Harvey L, Van Es P. Efficacy of electrical stimulation to increase muscle strength in people with neurological conditions: a systematic review. Physiother Res Int. 2007;12:175–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Burnett TA, Mann EA, Stoklosa JB, Ludlow CL. Self-triggered functional electrical stimulation during swallowing. J Neurophysiol. 2005;94:4011–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Taub E, Uswatte G, Elbert T. New treatments in neurorehabilitation founded on basic research. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2002;3:228–36.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Logemann JA, Pauloski BR, Rademaker AW, Colangelo LA, Kahrilas PJ, Smith CH. Temporal and biomechanical characteristics of oropharyngeal swallow in younger and older men. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2000;43:1264–74.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sia I, Carvajal P, Carnaby-Mann GD, Crary MA. Measurement of hyoid and laryngeal displacement in video fluoroscopic swallowing studies: variability, reliability, and measurement error. Dysphagia. 2011;27:192–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine , 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea

    Hyung Seok Nam, Jaewon Beom, Byung-Mo Oh & Tai Ryoon Han

Authors
  1. Hyung Seok Nam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jaewon Beom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Byung-Mo Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tai Ryoon Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tai Ryoon Han.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nam, H.S., Beom, J., Oh, BM. et al. Kinematic Effects of Hyolaryngeal Electrical Stimulation Therapy on Hyoid Excursion and Laryngeal Elevation. Dysphagia 28, 548–556 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-013-9465-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-013-9465-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation