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Dysphagia

Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, affects as many as 15 million Americans and approximately one million new cases are diagnosed each year. Symptoms can include coughing during or after swallowing, choking on food or liquid, the sensation of food getting stuck in the throat, pain during swallowing and shortness of breath while eating.

What Causes Dysphagia?

Dysphagia occurs when there is a problem with the swallowing process anywhere from the mouth to the stomach. It is especially prevalent among the elderly, but as many as one in 17 people may experience dysphagia at some point in their lifetime. It commonly occurs following stroke, radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, traumatic head or spinal cord injury, tracheotomy, burns and meningitis. It is also common in people with congenital or degenerative neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

What Are Side Effects of Dysphagia?

If not properly managed, dysphagia can lead to aspiration pneumonia, which is caused by food or saliva going down the wind pipe and into the lungs. Aspiration pneumonia is a very serious condition and one of the leading causes of death among the elderly. Dysphagia can also cause complications such as choking and bronchospasm as well as chronic malnutrition and dehydration, which can lead to significant weight loss, muscle wasting and physical debilitation.

Dysphagia profoundly affects quality of life. Many patients with dysphagia end up with a feeding tube because they are not able to take in any kind of nutrition or fluids on their own. Patients with feeding tubes often experience personal discomfort and a drastic reduction in activity due to the inconvenience and pain. Some patients feel isolated and become depressed because they can no longer enjoy family gatherings or the simple pleasure of a well-prepared meal.

How Is Dysphagia Diagnosed?

Physicians and speech-language pathologists who diagnose and treat swallowing disorders use a variety of tests that allow them to look at the different parts of the swallowing mechanism. The diagnostic and treatment team may include gastroenterologists, neurologists, otalaryngologists, physiatrists, radiologists, surgeons, occupational therapists, dietitians and nurses.

How Is Dysphagia Treated?

Dysphagia is treated with conventional speech therapy and oral exercises, thermal therapy, patient education, swallowing maneuvers and physiologic exercises. In many cases, a change of diet and food preparation was recommended to improve efficiency and safety of swallowing.

Sister Kenny therapists also offer a new treatment available called VitalStim® Therapy. VitalStim Therapy is a specialized form of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) designed to treat dysphagia through muscle re-education. NMES has a long and proven track record in many areas of rehabilitation, and has been used for years by physical therapists to treat larger muscles, such as those in the legs, arms and shoulders. However, VitalStim Therapy is the only device and therapy protocol cleared by the FDA to treat dysphagia. Learn more about VitalStim.

Learn More

For more information about dysphagia treatment at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, call 612-863-1924.


(The information above is excerpted from Encore Medical, L.P. VitalStim Therapy brochure)

Related Links

Evaluations for Dysphagia

VitalStim Therapy for Dysphagia

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
800 E. 28th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-4200 or toll free 866-880-3550