Electromagnetic Therapy for Cervicogenic Dysphagia
Efficacy of Electromagnetic Therapy in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Dysphagia: Randomized Single-blind Placebo-Control Study
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Detailed Description
Swallowing represents an integrated sensorimotor process accomplished by coordinated muscular actions. Cervical spine structures, under normal conditions, play an important role in maintaining coordinated swallowing.
The muscular and neural structures of the cervical spine are responsible for the coordinated movement of the larynx, pharynx, and hyoid bone during swallowing. Sensory information ascends from cervical structures to the brainstem, providing feedback to help synchronize the complex and harmonized contributions of the neck and throat muscles during swallowing. Disruption of this sensory feedback loop can result in coordination deficits and difficulty swallowing.
Biomechanical alterations or degenerative changes in the cervical spine can affect its position and stability. These alterations may further impact the surrounding neural and muscular structures' functions, resulting in a variety of alarming symptoms and dysfunctional patterns that predispose to mechanical obstruction and difficulty swallowing.
Cervicogenic dysphagia (CD) is an alarming disorder characterized by disturbed swallowing secondary to cervical structures dysfunction. Cervical spondylosis and associated pathological consequences can contribute to the development of CD. Cervical spine biomechanical alterations and malalignments, such as cervical kyphosis, a condition commonly encountered in cervical spondylosis, can predispose to pharyngeal dysfunction and difficult swallowing. The combined effects of neck muscular and articular dysfunctions represented in muscle weakness, poor cervical posture, and limited range of motion can disturb the cricopharyngeal sphincter action and the normal laryngeal function, ultimately predisposing to CD.
Although cure of dysphagia is not always possible, conservative approaches can provide an effective path to alleviate patients' complaints. A comprehensive dysphagia management program is not only important to restore normal swallowing function, but also to eliminate the economic burden and the dysphagia-related health hazards.
Low-frequency, low-intensity electromagnetic field therapy (EMT) is a safe, non-invasive therapeutic modality of clinical interest and effective applicability in the treatment of a variety of pathologies.
Although the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) as a safe and effective therapeutic modality was investigated in a variety of cervical pathologies, there is a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of PEMFT in the treatment of patients with cervicogenic dysphagia.
Considering the reported safety and effectiveness of PEMFT therapy in the treatment of different pathologies, this study aimed to investigate the effects of PEMFT therapy on swallowing function and the dysphagia handicapping effects in patients with CD.
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
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Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 24351
- Umm Al-Qura University
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Individuals diagnosed with cervicogenic dysphagia and cervical spondylosis
- Age 50-60 years.
- Individuals with a sedentary lifestyle (less than 30 minutes of aerobic activities per day).
- Signed the written consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects diagnosed with rheumatological disease, cerebrovascular abnormalities
- Subjects having a metal implant or previous cervical surgeries.
- Subjects having received physical therapy programs for cervical spondylosis or dysphagia within the last 6 months.
Subjects with recent infection, cognitive impairments or dementia, cardiovascular instability, head or neck traumatic injuries, neurological disorders affecting swallowing (e.g., parkinsonism, stroke).
- Subjects who received medications interfering with normal swallowing function (e.g., antiepileptics, antipsychotics, and antidepressant drugs).
- Subjects who refused to provide the signed informed consent.
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Double
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Study group (received PEMFT + swallowing resistance training program; n=20)
Participants in the study group received the PEMFT treatment program in addition to the swallowing resistance training program "SRTP (which included the resisted chin tuck-in and the resisted swallowing exercises).
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The pulsed electromagnetic field treatment program plus the swallowing resistance training program
|
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Placebo Comparator: Control group (received placebo PEMFT + swallowing resistance training program; n=20)
Participants in the control (Placebo comparator) group received the placebo PEMFT treatment program in addition to the swallowing resistance training program "SRTP (which included the resisted chin tuck-in and the resisted swallowing exercises).
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The placebo pulsed electromagnetic field treatment program plus the swallowing resistance training program
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Swallowing function
Time Frame: Baseline and post-8 weeks
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Assessment of the swallowing function using the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire, composed of 15 self-reported items.
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Baseline and post-8 weeks
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The dysphagia handicapping effects
Time Frame: Baseline and post 8 weeks.
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The dysphagia handicapping effects assessment (using Dysphagia Handicap Index)
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Baseline and post 8 weeks.
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Pain intensity
Time Frame: Baseline and post 8 weeks
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Assessment of pain intensity using the 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS)
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Baseline and post 8 weeks
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The forward head position
Time Frame: Baseline and post 8 weeks
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The forward head position assessment (the craniovertebral angle)
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Baseline and post 8 weeks
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Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: ASHRAF AM ABDELAAL, Ph.D., Umm Al-Qura University
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Actual)
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- HAPO-02-K-012-2024-01-1956
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
IPD Plan Description
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
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