Laryngeal elevation dysfunction is a relatively common swallowing disorder symptoms and can be a risk factor for aspiration. Shaker exercise is one of the training exercises for the patients with poor laryngeal elevation. Although this is an evidence-based training exercise, it is physically demanding and many patients are unable to complete the session. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of devices that use electrical stimulation therapy to stimulate muscle contraction of the suprahyoid muscles in swallowing rehabilitation.
In this study, we performed short-term intensive swallowing rehabilitation using high-voltage pulse stimulation in three patients with swallowing disorders who had shown little improvement in swallowing function with conventional swallowing rehabilitation.
As a result, the elevation and anterior displacement of the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone during swallowing increased in all cases, and improvements in PAS and FILS were also observed.
Short-term intensive swallowing rehabilitation combined with high-voltage pulse stimulation therapy has been shown to have some effect on improving swallowing function.
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