[Dysphagia] minimassager, facial massage

[sorriso at adelphia.net (sorriso@adelphia.net)]

I have a patient with diagnosis encephalopathy in one of my SNF buildings.  She had a right CVA back in the spring with a long hospitalization, SNF (not my building) for a month, rehospitalization, reSNF (same as last one), home and back to my facility after failing at home.  She has some residual left-sided weakness with occasional drool at rest.  Diet texture is mechanical soft with ground meat and thin liquids.  She is physically capable of masticating regular but has no desire to.

Anyhow, she was seen this past week by another therapist in my company in coverage for me.  The therapist documented providing the patient with mini-massage (with one of those little vibrator-type massagers) x5 minutes and 30 reps of sustained facial massage to affected side.

My question for the group is, is this treatment indicated in this patient?  Is there any research to support this or not support this?  How about in patients with a more recent onset?  I know that one of the books I've seen on oral-motor maybe the Source for Dysarthria, instructs how to perform sustained massage but is there any proof of benefit for the patient?  I have seen patients demo increased labial ROM immediately post facial massage but then return to baseline.

Thanks for your input,
Linda A. Zanchi, MA CCC-SLP