Effects of interferential current stimulation on swallowing reflex in dysphagic patients

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25560271
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Hyogo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: OKU Yoshitaka 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20252512)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NOZAKI Sonoko 兵庫医療大学, 医療福祉学部, 教授 (50463477) ; OKE Yoshihiko 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50396470) ; DAIMON Takashi 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40372156)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 嚥下障害 / 機能的電気刺激 / 干渉波刺激 / 嚥下造影検査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have previously shown that surface interferential current (IFC) stimulation at the sensory threshold significantly increases the number of swallows. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of IFC stimulation at the sensory threshold on the swallowing reflex of 12 dysphagic patients by videofluoroscopic (VFS) measurements. Each subject underwent three series of VFS examination, before, during, and after the IFC stimulation. We tested three food types, juice, jelly, and biscuits, however, only juice consistency resulted in significant changes in temporal measurements of VFS parameters before, during and after IFC stimulation. For juice consistency, IFC stimulation shortened the pharyngeal response duration (the duration from the hyoid bone beginning maximum elevation to its return to the resting position by 15%. No painful sensations were reported. We conclude that IFC stimulation has a potential to be an alternative mode of therapy for dysphagic patients.

Free Research Field

呼吸生理学