× Home Calendar Courses Club CIAO Request A Course VitalStim® Info VitalStim® Registry Products eCourse Bundles About Us Our Mission Podcasts FAQs/Forms Toys & Tools Search Contact Login!
COURSE MENU

Course Description

Current research will be reviewed to explore how the NMES parameters such as frequency, phase duration and duty cycle can be changed to maximize impact. Participants will learn about the benefit of using up to 4 channels of stimulation and will learn how to sequence the stimulation between channels to mimic a normal swallowing sequence. In addition, two new modalities will be reviewed and practiced: sEMG Biofeedback and sEMG triggered electrical stimulation.
Disclosure: This course offering will only cover information that pertains to the effective and safe use of VitalStim Plus.

NOTE: Participant must be a VitalStim Provider to attend this advanced level course.

Course Requirements:
  • Computer with internet and working speakers/sound are required for this course.
  • Course must be completed within 30 days of activation (activate course within 6 months of purchase).
  • An online multiple-choice quiz (80% passing score) and submission of an online evaluation form are required for successful completion.
  • A certificate of completion will be available to print immediately after course is successfully completed.
  • SLPs - ASHA CEUs may be obtained by completing the online ASHA form and checking the "Report to ASHA" box.

Course Objectives

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

  • Verbalize the key neurophysiological and practical principles relevant to the use of VitalStim Therapy in the treatment of dysphagia
  • Summarize the key findings of recent publications on the topic of NMES in the treatment of dysphagia
  • Demonstrate appropriate selection and execution of NMES protocols with parameter settings that differ from the VitalStim protocol and verbalize their rationale
  • Modifying the pulse frequency
  • Modifying the phase duration
  • Modifying the duty cycle (e.g., 4 seconds ON, 12 seconds OFF)
  • Using up to 4 channels of stimulation
  • Sequencing the stimulation between channels (for example, start stimulation on the oropharyngeal sling and follow with stimulation of the submandibular muscles)
  • Describe the mechanism of action of sEMG Biofeedback in the treatment of dysphagia
  • Demonstrate the correct execution of sEMG Biofeedback used for common neuromuscular impairments present in dysphagia
  • Describe the mechanism of action of sEMG triggered stimulation in the treatment of dysphagia
  • Demonstrate the correct execution of sEMG triggered stimulation used for common neuromuscular impairments present in dysphagia
  • Demonstrate the replication of protocols described in key publications utilizing the VitalStim Plus technology

Yorick Wijting

PT, DPT

Yorick received his Physical Therapy degree in the Netherlands and his DPT at the University of St. Augustine, Florida. He has extensive training and practical experience in biophysical agents and teaches nationally and internationally to medical professionals on their therapeutic use. Yorick has been instrumental in developing the use of electrical stimulation by Speech Language Pathologists in the treatment of dysphagia. Yorick currently lives in California and runs his private practice in Gilroy, CA.

Financial Disclosure: Yorick receives honoraria from CIAO Seminars for the presentation of his live course(s) and royalties for the sale of his recorded course(s). Yorick is the author and an instructor for the VitalStim Therapy Specialty Program.
Non-Financial Disclosure: no relevant relationships exist

Jonathan Rose

MS, PT, SCS, ATC

Jon received his Master of Science from Eastern Illinois University in 1992 and his Certificate of Physical Therapy from Ohio State in 1997. Jon currently holds an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. He teaches courses in anatomy, pathology, orthopedics, and sports medicine. He continues to treat patients and conduct research at Campbell Clinic. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in educational research at the University of Memphis. Formerly the director of rehabilitation for Samaritan Regional Health System in Ashland, Ohio, Jon has also worked as the Director of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Coordinator for Campbell Clinic in Memphis, TN. Jon is currently a Certified Instructor for the VitalStim® Certification Course teaching NMES for the treatment of dysphagia. Jon’s professional appointments include Team Physical Therapist and Rehab Consultant for several semi-professional and professional sports teams. He is an NATABOC certified Athletic Trainer and a member of the APTA, Ohio PT Association, and Tennessee Athletic Trainers Association.

Financial Disclosure: Jon receives honoraria from CIAO Seminars for the presentation of this course. He also receives royalties for the purchase of his recorded course(s).
Non-financial Disclosure: There are no financial relationships to disclose.

15 Minutes
Knowledge inventory
60 Minutes
NMES core concepts
45 Minutes
Review of the literature – What do we know?
90 Minutes
sEMG biofeedback – lecture & lab
60 Minutes
sEMG triggered stimulation – lecture & lab
60 Minutes
Advanced NMES application – lecture & lab
15 Minutes
VitalStim Plus Software
5.8 Hours
Total

Delivery VIA:

  • Online - This course is offered in an online, on demand format.
  • Club CIAO Plus - Club CIAO Plus: This course is a stand-alone course as well as part of Club CIAO Plus, our all-you-can-eat buffet of online courses (including 1 and 2 day courses) for one low price. Club CIAO Plus Members also receive 25% off of all Live Stream courses!

Contact hours pre-approved for:

  • 5.5 Hours
  • CIAO is an ASHA Approved Provider (0.55 ASHA CEUs) bubble sheet submission required
  • CIAO is an Approved Provider for AOTA #4119 (0.55 AOTA CEUs)
  • This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (5.5 PDUs)
  • CIAO is an Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy
  • Approved for:
  • 5.5 Hours Registered with CEBroker for OT/COTAs in AL, AZ, GA, LA, MS, SC, TN
  • 6.5 Hrs OTs in FL (CE Broker #20-991390)

Course meets requirements for:

  • OT/COTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, ID, IA, IN, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,
  • OT/COTAs in NE, NV, NH, NJ,, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY

    • The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.


    Advanced Level
    0.55 ASHA CEUs


    CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.


    CIAO is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). CIAO complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, CIAO is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.


    CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)


    Reviews

    Another amazing course. I appreciate you all so very much. Its almost time for my renewal and I'm excited to hear what is new in the research.

    - Winder, GA / Apr 2026

    I appreciate updating my certification every 3 years as a refresher but also receiving the most up to date research.

    - Anchorage, AK / Jan 2026

    It would be great if videos had 15 seconds forward/back option--to be able to go right back and hear something again rather than trying to toggle to the just right spot.

    - El Cajon, CA / Nov 2025

    Great course, Great information!!

    - Huntingdon, TN / Jul 2025

    I hope everyone who has this machine utilizes this resource.

    - Jacksonville, FL / Jun 2025

    Great information! Need to show or talk about where you can get supply, cords, programs on computer

    - Katy, TX / Jun 2025

    I appreciated the fun/play the staff does back and forth. I know that sounds silly, but it lightens the mood (from the stress of trying to retain the information) and I want to support good companies with healthy and enjoyable work environments for the employees.

    - Chesterton, IN / Jun 2025

    Great course. Highly recommend.

    - Clay, NY / Oct 2024

    great presenter

    - Victoria, TX / Aug 2024

    thanks!

    - Berthoud, CO / Jul 2024

    Great instructors with detailed information!

    - Bolivar, MO / Jun 2024

    I signed up to take this course as a livestream, but it got cancelled a few days before. I did take it online and still found it very informative.

    - Niskayuna, NY / Jun 2024

    The research was interesting, but I would have appreciated more relating it back to what we need to know when using Vital Stim

    - Manhattan, KS / Jun 2024

    No additional. Thank you for thorough education an examples.

    - Rochester, MI / Jun 2024

    I wish we had spent more time on the sEMG with estim combination and playing around with different settings adjustments for different scenarios or case studies

    - Austin, TX / Mar 2024

    I very much LOVED that the device was thoroughly covered, given the fact that I had been working with the old school 2010 model! I loved that this course covered that since I didn't get that in the refresher course.

    - Highland, IL / Feb 2024

    Great info!

    - Frisco, TX / Jan 2024

    Great course.

    - Bentonville, AR / Jan 2024

    This was very helpful. I was initially certified and have been using the original device. When my facility purchased the VitalStim Plus, I was excited to learn all the new ways it could be used. This course was great!

    - Prescott Valley, AZ / Sep 2023

    I really appreciated the e-course option as it allowed me to work at my own pace and take breaks as needed. I was able to re-play areas of the lecture that I wanted to understand better and fully understand what the presenter was conveying.

    - Bowling Green, OH / Mar 2023

    wonderful course

    - Tulsa, OK / Mar 2023

    I will need to practice with the software and actually accessing it on the computer- I also feel this will be helpful as well.

    - Toms River, NJ / Mar 2023