Vital Stim PLUS
Vital Stim Plus is an FDA form of neuromuscular electrical stimulation that helps recruit and re-educate muscles in the process of swallowing. Under the guidance of a certified SLP, patients partner in an interactive therapy that aids muscle strengthening to rehabilitate swallowing. Treatment can also be used in conjunction with sEMG (surface electromyography) as a form of biofeedback. That is, the patient and clinician can see a visual waveform that creates a patient focused experience encouraging engagement and achievement through more effort to therapeutic exercises.
The Research…
Can Vital Stim help patients who have a PEG tube?
In patients with severe dysphagia, VitalStim Therapy’s success rate in restoring patients’ swallowing function past the point of their requiring a feeding tube (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy or PEG) was 97.5%, versus 39% for thermal application.
Is it possible to fully rehabilitate the swallow back to normal?
In well over one-third of these severe dysphagia cases, VitalStim Therapy was able to restore the patient’s swallowing function completely
How many sessions will it take?
Patients frequently see dramatic improvement in six to 20 daily sessions.
Is it safe?
The studies demonstrate that VitalStim Therapy is safe, that professionals and patients are satisfied, and that the therapy increases patient outcomes.