Neuro-Muscular Dentistry: the “diamond” concept of electro-stimulation potential for stomato-gnathic and oro-dental conditions

Table 1 Summary of Selected Studies Employing NMES in the Treatment of OPD

Ref	Study Design	Participants (SS; Age; NMES / RST; etiology)	Intervention Type	Outcome Measure	Therapy Duration
[10]	RCT	23; 64.5 ± 8.8 / 64.73 ± 9.39; 9/14; Stroke.	NMES vs. RST	FOIS	1 h/day, 18 sessions. Around 20 days.
[13]	RCT	60; NMES 31 / Control29; 56.50 ± 8.73; 55.83 ± 7.97 15/16, 14/15; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.	NMES, balloon dilatation vs. Control	WST VFSS	1 h, 5 days per week, 4 months.
[19]	RCT	40; mean age of 48 years; 12 / 8; Stroke.	NMES, RST vs. SES, RST	FOIS	1 h (45 min of NMES), 20 sessions. At least 1 month (3 months follow-up).
[22]	CCT	10; Elderly; Stroke.	NMES, OST vs. OST, sham-NMES	FOIS PAS DOSS QoL protocol	2 stages of 10 min NMES with exercises. Thrice a week for 4 weeks (3 months follow-up).
[25]	CCT	99; 75, 5/78, 1; 53 / 46; Stroke.	NMES vs. RST (thermal-tactile stimulation)	Swallow Score System	1 h/day, variable sessions. Did not limit duration (follow-up 3 years).
[26]	RCT double-blinded	170; over 21 years old; Head and Neck Cancer.	NMES	PAS VFSS	3 training sessions and at home 2 times a day, 6 days a week, for 12 weeks.
[27]	RCT	20; Children; Cerebral Palsy.	NMES, OST vs. OST, sham-NMES	ASHA – NOMS	20 min of NMES after OST. Twice a week for 8 weeks.

Legend: SS sample size, RCT randomized controlled trial, CCT clinical controlled trial, RST traditional rehabilitation swallowing therapy, WST water swallow test, SES sham electrical stimulation, OST oral sensorimotor treatment, FOIS Functional Oral Intake Scale, DOSS Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale, VFSS video-fluoroscopic swallowing study, PAS Penetration Aspiration Scale, ASHA – NOMS The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA)‘s National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS)

ISSN: 1746-160X