Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of adding acupuncture to standard swallowing
training for patients with dysphagia after stroke.
DESIGN: Single-blind
randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Inpatient and outpatient clinics. SUBJECTS:
A total of 124 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into
two groups: acupuncture and control. INTERVENTIONS:
The acupuncture group
received standard swallowing training and acupuncture treatment. In comparison,
the control group only received standard swallowing training. Participants in
both groups received six days of therapy per week for a four-week period. MAIN
MEASURES: The primary outcome measures included the Standardized Swallowing
Assessment and the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale. The secondary outcome
measures included the Modified Barthel Index and Swallowing-Related Quality of
Life, which were assessed before and after the four-week therapy period. RESULTS:
A total of 120 dysphagic subjects completed the study (60 in acupuncture group
and 60 in control group). Significant differences existed in the Standardized
Swallowing Assessment, Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale, Modified Barthel Index,
and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life scores of each group after the treatment
(P < 0.01). After the four-week treatment, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment
(mean difference - 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 5.0 to - 0.81; P < 0.01),
Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (mean difference 2.3; 95% CI 0.7 to 1.2; P <
0.01), Modified Barthel Index (mean difference 17.2; 95% CI 2.6 to 9.3; P < 0.05)
and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life scores (mean difference 31.4; 95% CI 3.2
to 11.4; P < 0.01) showed more significant improvement in the acupuncture group
than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with the standard
swallowing training may be beneficial for dysphagic patients after stroke.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS