- FACT SHEET: VITALSTIM® THERAPY
- Specialized form of neuro-muscular electrical stimulation (NMES) specifically designed to treat dysphagia. NMES has been used successfully in a wide variety of therapeutic and rehabilitative settings for many years.
- Only neuro-muscular electrical stimulation device cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat dysphagia.
- Non-invasive therapy that uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing while trained specialists help patients “re-educate” their throat muscles with special exercises.
- HOW IT WORKS:
- Small, carefully calibrated current is delivered by specially designed electrodes, which are placed on the neck.
- Current stimulates motor nerves in the throat while patient practices swallowing exercises.
- Muscles responsible for swallowing contract.
- Quality of the swallowing function improves.
- With repeated therapy, muscles are re-educated.
- Patients frequently see dramatic improvement in six to 20 treatment sessions (60 minutes each) – some in as little as three sessions.
- Administered by specially trained speech therapists in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
- Must be prescribed by a physician.
- Effective in patients with a wide range of primary diagnoses, including stroke, head or neck cancer, respiratory conditions and degenerative neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
- Effective in patients of all ages – from infants and toddlers to patients in their 80s.
©2006 Encore Medical, L.P. 4845A
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Please click on the PDF logo below to download a complete VitalStim brochure.
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