A case study examining the effectiveness of surface electromyography (sEMG) biofeedback in dysphagia rehabilitation and the SWAL-QOL quality of life outcome measure

Abstract

Dysphagia is very common following a stroke and in the US alone 500,000 individuals experience a stroke each year. As a result, advances in dysphagia management are growing and include the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) as a biofeedback tool. There is also a shift taking place in terms of how patients are viewed by professionals. In rehabilitation there is less of a focus on impairment-based rehabilitation and more on how the patient functions holistically in their environment, based on the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of sEMG as a therapy tool; the effect it has on a person’s quality of life (measured by the SWAL-QOL); and the impact it has on treatment outcomes when therapy is delivered intensively. The results indicated a trend to significance in the progress made by the participant (as measured by videofluoroscopy interpretation) and additionally in the dietary changes after treatment. There was also a significant change in the participant’s perception of their quality of life after treatment. These findings provide a useful basis for the generation of future hypotheses in larger research yet to be conducted.