VitalStim Therapy
Introduction
VitalStim® Therapy is an innovative procedure that facilitates retraining of throat muscles affected by dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. Dysphagia is a common condition among stroke victims, those with progressive neurological disorders and the elderly.
An estimated 15 million Americans are affected by dysphagia. In fact, nearly 75 percent of stroke survivors and 90 percent of patients with neurological disorders are afflicted by the disorder. The condition is thought to be widely under diagnosed and is highly prevalent in the elderly population - more than 6.2 million Americans over age 60 suffer from dysphagia.
Features
In VitalStim® Therapy, a small current is passed through external electrodes on the neck to stimulate inactive or atrophied swallowing muscles. With repeated therapy, throat muscles are re-trained and the patient is progressed to an optimum level of swallow function. Cleared for use by the Food and Drug Administration, VitalStim can free some patients from the need for feeding tubes and can lead to a return to normal dietary intake.
Among patients with severe dysphagia who received VitalStim Therapy in a clinical trial, 97.5 percent regained their swallow function past the point of tube dependency. In addition, trials found a success rate of 80 percent in improved swallowing function - compared to 33 percent for thermal stimulation (a traditional therapy).
Speech language pathologists and occupational therapists are required to complete a three-day training course to administer VitalStim Therapy.
Contact Us: VitalStim Therapy is offered at HealthSouth hospitals nationwide through inpatient and outpatient therapy.
Click here to request more information or to find a HealthSouth
facility in your area that offers VitalStim.