Positive Health Online

Abstract

ZHANG and COLLEAGUES, 1. Department of Rehabilitation, Minda Hospital of Hubei University for Nationalities, Hubei Province, Enshi 445000, China; 2. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006. 408827469@qq.com conducted clinical trials for the treatment of stroke patients with dysphagia using Vitalstim Electroacupuncture combined with swallowing rehabilitation training.

Background

To observe the clinical effect of vitalstim electroacupuncture (EA) combined with swallowing rehabilitation training in the treatment of stroke patients with dysphagia.

Methodology

A total of 80 stroke patients with dysphagia were randomized into treatment and control groups (n=40 in each group). Patients of the control group were treated by regular medication for anti-platelet aggregation and anti-coagulation, lipid-lowering, neuroprotection, blood glucose control and blood pressure control, etc. and swallowing function rehabilitation training, and those of the treatment group treated by EA stimulation of Fengchi (GB 20), Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13) with a Vitalstim Electrostimulator and manual acupuncture stimulation of Lianquan (CV 23), Tiantu (CV 22) in combination with regular medication plus swallowing function training as those mentioned in the control group. The EA and manual acupuncture stimulation treatment was conducted once daily, 6 times a week and 4 weeks altogether. The therapeutic effect was assessed by using Kubota swallowing ability test (6 levels), dysphagia subscale (0-6 scores) of the neurological deficit degrees, video fluorography (VFG) assessment (markedly effective, effective and invalid, for evaluating the function and symmetry state of the swallowing movements), and the MOS Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36, 8 minor items of two major aspects in physiological function, mental health, emotional function, social function and overall health) for assessing the patients' daily-life quality.

Results

After the treatment, the dysphagia score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). VFG outcomes showed that, of the two 40 patients in the control and treatment groups, 16 and 23 experienced a marked improvement, 20 and 15 were effective, 4 and 2 were ineffective, with the markedly effective rate being 40.0% and 57.5%, respectively. The daily-life quality scores for physiological function, mental health, emotional function, social function and overall health were all notably increased after the treatment in both groups, particularly in the treatment group (P<0.05). The therapeutic effects of the treatment group were remarkably superior to those of the control group in improving dysphagia (showed by dysphagia score and VFG outcomes) and life quality.

Conclusion

EA treatment combined with swallowing function rehabilitation training is effective in improving swallowing ability and daily-life quality in stroke patients with dysphagia.

References

Zhang SY1, Liu SB1, Wu W2, Chen YM1, Liao KL1, Xiang Y1, Pan D1. [Clinical Trials for Treatment of Stroke Patients with Dysphagia by Vitalstim Electroacupuncture Combined with Swallowing Rehabilitation Training]. [Article in Chinese] Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 42(2):168-72. 25 Apr  2017.