Background: Patients with dysphagia after stroke are treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), but its effect on masseter muscle thickness and bite force in the oral phase is not well known.
Objectives: To investigated the effect of NMES on masseter muscle thickness and occlusal force in patients with dysphagia after stroke.
Design: Two group, pre-post design.
Methods: In this study, 25 patients with dysphagia after stroke were recruited and allocated to either the experimental or the control groups. Patients in the experimental group were treated with NMES to the masseter muscle at the motor level for 30 minutes and were additionally treated with traditional swallowing rehabilitation for 30 minutes. In contrast, patients in the control group were only treated with traditional swallowing rehabilitation for 30 minutes. Masseter muscle thickness was measured using ultrasonography before and after intervention, and bite force was measured using an bite force meter.
Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement in masseter muscle thickness and bite force compared to the control group.
Conclusion: NMES combined with traditional dysphagia rehabilitation is effective in improving masseter muscle thickness and bite force in patients with dysphagia after stroke.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
    Subjects
    Methods
    Outcome measurement
    Statistical analysis
RESULTS
    Participants
    Masseter muscle thickness
    Bite force
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Myunglyeol Lee(Department of Emergency Medical Services, Kyungdong University)
• Kuija Lee(Department of Emergency Medical Services, Kyungdong University)
• Jinuk Kim(Department of Emergency Medical Services, Kyungdong University) correspondence