Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences & Research

Combined Thermal and Neuromuscular Stimulations for Stroke- Related Dysphagia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Shiva Ebrahimian dehaghani; Atefeh Hoseinzadeh Mofrad; Amir Salahi Ardakani

Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2024, , Pages 50-57

Abstract

Background: The incidence of stroke escalates with age in both genders, with nearly 50% and 30% of cases reported in individuals over the ages of 75 and 85 years, respectively. This ... Read More Background: The incidence of stroke escalates with age in both genders, with nearly 50% and 30% of cases reported in individuals over the ages of 75 and 85 years, respectively. This pilot randomized clinical trial was designed to explore the effects of combined thermal and neuromuscular stimulations on dysphagia improvement. It also aimed to identify the most efficient dysphagia management plan for acute stroke patients. Methods: In this pilot randomized clinical trial study, twelve acute stroke patients were randomly and concurrently allocated into two groups. The control group received routine medical treatment without speech therapy counseling, while the intervention group underwent superficial and deep thermal neuromuscular stimulations. In the intervention group, one patient received treatment for two weeks, three patients for three weeks, and two patients for five weeks (five times a week). Patients in the intervention group were re-evaluated each week after five days of therapy using the Motility Function (MF) and Mann’s Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) tests to monitor consistent improvement. Based on the cutoff point of the MASA test, treatment was either continued or terminated. Accordingly, different follow-up periods were considered for the patients: one received treatment for two weeks, three for three weeks, and two for five weeks. Results: The results indicated a significant difference between the two groups regarding the mean MASA score after a 21-day intervention. The intervention group scored 166.5±3.53, while the control group scored 163±10.02 after 35 days (P=0.03). Furthermore, the intervention group reached the cutoff MASA score in the sixth MASA assessment after a 35-day intervention. Conclusion: According to the protocol proposed by speech-language pathologists, it is recommended to perform stimulations for approximately 21-35 days. Given the significant results obtained from this preliminary study, it is suggested that this protocol be implemented in a larger sample size.

Comparison of Brain atrophic changes in dementia patients with and without swallowing dysfunction

Mansoureh Chegeni; Shiva Ebrahimian dehaghani; Mehrzad Lotfi; Zahra Salami

Volume 9, Issue 2 , June 2022, , Pages 72-78

Abstract

Background: on the one hand, very limited studies were performed on identifying the active regions during swallowing among healthy individuals and those with dementia. On the other ... Read More Background: on the one hand, very limited studies were performed on identifying the active regions during swallowing among healthy individuals and those with dementia. On the other hand, to the best of our knowledge, no research has yet compared the injured areas in the brain of patients with dementia with and without dysphagia, such that damage to specific regions in dementia causes dysphagia may be found using this approach. The present study was performed to evaluate the atrophic changes in the internal temporal lobe (hippocampus), frontal (anterior cingulate cortex), and parietal (posterior cingulate cortex), and insula cortex in these patients.Methods: the present study is a retrospective cross-sectional study. 54 patients with dementia were investigated. The data were collected using a checklist, including information related to the dysphagia, and the brain MRI findings to determine atrophy. The extent of atrophic changes was recorded in the checklist using the median temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) score, Koedem score scale, and the global cortical atrophy (GCA) scale. To present the results, descriptive statistics, and data comparison, chi-square tests were used.Results: The mean age of the examined patients was 72.01 with a standard deviation of 10.64 years, and range of 50-95 years. Out of them, 32 (59.3%) were male, and 22 (40.7%) were female. The degree atrophy of hippocampus (p=0.12), frontal lobe (P=0.46), parietal lobe (P=0.83), and insular cortex (P=0.91) in the patients with and without dysphagia did not show significant differences. The frequency distribution of the degree of atrophy based on the site of the development of atrophy was significant in the patients with dysphagia (P=0.033).Conclusion: In general, the findings showed that individuals with dementia who had dysphagia had more hippocampal and frontal lobe (and anterior cingulate) atrophy than dementia patients who did not have this impairment.

Comparison of the Rate of Verbal Oral Movements in Healthy Younger and Older Native Speakers of Persians

Shiva Ebrahimian dehaghani; Atefeh Hoseinzadeh Mofrad; Jalal Bakhtiyari

Volume 8, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 121-125

Abstract

Background: Normal aging is associated with many changes in speech-producing elements that can influence the articulators' ability to produce sounds quickly and precisely. To diagnose ... Read More

Description of Three Time-Domain Speech Features in Children with Down syndrome: A pilot study

Shiva Ebrahimian Dehaghani; Mahmood Bijankhan; Fateme Arjmandpur; Hoda Mozoonei; Omid Yaghini; Mohadeseh Ebrahimian

Volume 7, Issue 2 , June 2020, , Pages 75-79

Abstract

Background: The present pilot study aims at investigating the three features of time domain in speech in Persian-speaking children with Down syndrome. Methods: In this Cross sectional ... Read More

The Study of the Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy in Children with Absent Gag Reflex: A Case Study

Shiva Ebrahimian Dehaghani; Maryam Ebrahimian; Fateme Mohammadianfar

Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2020, , Pages 43-46

Abstract

Research shows that 1% of children experience swallowing difficulties, though the incidence is higher in some, such as those with cerebral palsy and brain injury. One of the causes ... Read More

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Author = Shiva Ebrahimian dehaghani

Combined Thermal and Neuromuscular Stimulations for Stroke- Related Dysphagia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Comparison of Brain atrophic changes in dementia patients with and without swallowing dysfunction

Abstract

Comparison of the Rate of Verbal Oral Movements in Healthy Younger and Older Native Speakers of Persians

Abstract

Description of Three Time-Domain Speech Features in Children with Down syndrome: A pilot study

Abstract

The Study of the Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy in Children with Absent Gag Reflex: A Case Study

Abstract