Ampcare Effective Swallowing Protocol (ESP)
Therapeutic Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Technology for Dysphagia
Ampcare ESP is a non-invasive treatment for dysphagia that combines electrical stimulation
parameters with specially selected resistance exercises to help rehabilitate swallow function.
Ampcare ESP technology harnesses the power of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to facilitate
swallowing, enabling a more effective, effortful swallowing exercise. By encouraging patients to engage
in purposeful swallowing actions, we aim to enhance the speed and strength of their swallowing function
over time. Ampcare ESP is the only technology that has been scientifically validated to accelerate airway
closure times, meaning if the airway closes faster during a swallow, there is less chance for food or liquid
to enter it. Thus, reducing the risk of aspiration. Ampcare’s ESP work is supported by peer-reviewed
research in the Summary of Evidence under Watts et al 2018 and Dumican et al 2022.
Two systematic reviews investigating non-invasive neurostimulation therapies reported positive effects on
swallowing function and quality of life when using NMES (Li et al, 2021; Wang et al, 2021). Other
research using Ampcare ESP has demonstrated that providing intensive dysphagia therapy (30 minutes)
is possible within inpatient, outpatient, and/or domiciliary settings. This results in significant and
functional improvements in swallow safety and an increase in swallow-related quality of life, particularly in
dysphagia following stroke (Sproson et al 2018, Martindale et al 2019).
NMES is a recommendation in the 2023 National Stroke Guidelines. It states: ‘People with dysphagia after stroke may be considered for neuromuscular electrical stimulation as an adjunct to behavioural rehabilitation where the device is available, and it can be delivered by a trained healthcare professional’.