VitalStim® Therapy

For those who suffer from dysphagia, a common condition among stroke and brain injury survivors, this therapy greatly improves swallowing ability with electrical stimulation.

VitalStim’s innovative technology

VitalStim retrains the muscles needed to complete the swallowing process through specially designed electrodes that are attached to the patient’s neck. A small current stimulates motor nerves, causing the muscles in the neck to contract for improved swallowing. Repeated therapy helps to gradually retrain the muscle groups to complete the swallowing process.

How VitalStim Therapy measures in clinical trials

In a clinical trial of nearly 900 patients using VitalStim Therapy, more than 98% improved their swallow function score. More than 97% of the patients with severe dysphagia regained swallow function past the point of needing a feeding tube and nearly 40 percent regained full normal swallow ability. Depending upon the severity level, VitalStim has been proven to be two to three times more effective than traditional stimulation therapy techniques.

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia is common among stroke survivors, those with progressive neurological disorders and the elderly. For the estimated 15 million Americans afflicted with dysphagia, symptoms can range from discomfort when swallowing to actually losing the ability to swallow.