This House Believes in e-stim
Author: Christine Matthews & Paula Leslie
Magazine issue: Autumn 09
Page numbers: 16-18
Date: 31 August 2009
URL: /content/files/SLTiPAut09CMatthewsPLeslie.pdf
This is the third in our series of articles set out like a debate, with the Proposition required to prove its case and the Opposition aiming to show why the Proposition is wrong. The Proposition case is that transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES / e-stim), in conjunction with traditional swallowing treatment techniques, is an effective treatment for dysphagia and is supported by patients. The Opposition points to the lack of quality evidence that NMES has positive effects on swallowing function and to further evidence that, worse than no effect, it may increase a patient’s risk of aspiration, which is unacceptable. Based on the available evidence, the authors conclude that it would currently be unethical to support the use of NMES in dysphagia treatment.
