OVERVIEW

VitalStim® Therapy and Beyond: DINES Specialty Certificate Program is organized by CIAO Seminars and will be held from Dec 03 - 04, 2026 at Long Island City, New York, United States of America.

Description:
VitalStim Therapy and Beyond: DINES (Dynamic Integration of NMES and Exercise for Swallowing) This accredited hands-on competency course will focus on the muscle physiology, kinesiology, and pathology of the normal and abnormal swallowing mechanisms. The principles of NMES will be taught in tandem with active dysphagia exercise therapy. NMES for Dysphagia protocols, using FDA cleared devices, will be covered against the backdrop of neurophysiology of the swallowing mechanism and available research. Adjustments to NMES parameters - frequency, phase duration, duty cycle, and more - will be incorporated in specific treatment protocols and extensively practiced in hands-on lab sessions. Cases will be evaluated using the impairment model (pathology; symptoms; signs; dysfunctions; and impairments) and treatment planning will be practiced.

Participants will receive one-on-one attention from two experienced instructors, a dysphagia expert and an electrical stimulation expert. Instructors will deliver relevant information on FDA clearance and clinical options relevant to different equipment options available today to better equip clinicians in the ever-changing world of NMES for dysphagia.

Participants who successfully complete this course will leave as a skilled VitalStim Provider and DINES Provider with the confidence and building blocks needed to implement a successful NMES for dysphagia therapy program.

Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Identify and describe the anatomical structures relevant to the swallowing function
Demonstrate accurate palpation of accessible structures in the head and neck region as relevant to the use of NMES
Describe relevant neurological and physiological aspects of normal and abnormal swallowing, including cranial nerve function and muscle fiber types
Describe the swallowing disorder based on the results of the evaluation in terms of impairments and dysfunctions
Formulate the theoretical rationale for using NMES in the treatment of dysphagia
Describe the characteristics of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and the influence of electricity on muscle tissue
Describe the parameters of pulsed waveforms – pulse duration, phase duration, frequency, duty cycle – commonly used in NMES in dysphagia therapy
Describe and demonstrate common problem-solving approaches used in a typical NMES treatment session, including preparing the skin, (re)positioning the electrodes, and adjusting NMES parameters
Describe the physiological impact of modifying the various pulsed waveform parameters on muscle fiber recruitment, fatigue, patient tolerance and exercise intensity
Identify the pathological conditions for which NMES is indicated
List precautions and contraindications to the use of NMES in the head and neck region
Describe the role of regulatory bodies in clearing NMES devices to market and its impact on clinical use of NMES by dysphagia clinicians
Describe the characteristics of typical NMES units and self-adhesive electrodes commonly used in dysphagia therapy
Describe, differentiate and demonstrate the execution of common NMES treatment protocols described in the peer-reviewed literature
Identify appropriate outcome variables to track and measure patient progress
Discuss and demonstrate correct electrode position based on patient presentation and anatomical location of target tissues, including the use of various stimulation channels and applying electrodes in the facial, suprahyoid and infrahyoid regions
Discuss and demonstrate the use of swallowing exercise during and after the application of NMES