EAST WINDSOR (August 31, 2018) – Fresh River Healthcare is using the world’s first virtual reality sEMG biofeedback system known as Synchrony in the Rehabilitation Department for residents and clients with dysphagia. Dysphagia is the medical term used to describe difficulty swallowing. Dysphagia includes difficulty starting a swallow (called oropharyngeal dysphagia) and the sensation of food being stuck in the neck or chest (called esophageal dysphagia).
This innovative rehabilitation technology is a program designed specifically for Speech Pathologist (SLP) to work with clients with a diagnosis of dysphagia. The program allows the speech pathologist, as well as the client, to visualize the swallow activity on a television screen. The information on the screen then allows the patient and therapist to see the swallow to help guide the client through therapeutic exercises with a series interactive activities that addresses dysfunction typically associated with dysphagia.
Synchrony Program, Patient Outcome, June 2018
The benefits are visual and auditory feedback, promotion of greater exercise intensity, real time assessment of the swallow time and muscle activity as well as the ability to capture objective date to guide the treatment plan. This program can be used in conjunction with a proprietary non-invasive “Patterned Electric Neuromuscular Stimulation” (PENS) which may help to enhance muscle strength and coordination needed for normal swallowing. ACP’s Synchrony dysphagia program has shown to help achieve better outcomes for the treatment of dysphagia through their research and clinical outcomes.
Fresh River Healthcare are seeing wonderful outcomes with clients with various medical diagnosis that result in swallowing deficits.