Combination of acupuncture with rehabilitation training for pseudobulbar paralysis after stroke:A randomized controlled trial吞咽五穴联合康复训练 治疗脑卒中后假性延髓麻痹：随机对照试验

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effects of needling at “five acupoints for swallow function” combined with rehabilitation training and only rehabilitation training in the treatment of dysphagia due to pseudobulbar paralysis after stroke. MethodsSeventy-six patients were randomized into rehabilitation group and combination group, with 38 cases in each. Both groups were treated with basic treatment of western medicine. The rehabilitation group was treated with routine rehabilitation training, and the combination group was treated with acupuncture at “five acupoints for swallow function” based on treatment in the rehabilitation group. Patients in the two groups were treated once a day, 6 days a week, 1 day for rest, for 3 weeks in succession. The changes in the grades and scores of water swallow test (WST), video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and swallowing quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) in the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical effects of the two groups were compared. ResultsAfter treatment, the WST grades of the two groups were statistically different from that of before treatment (both P< 0.05), and the WST grade of the combination group was statistically different from that of the rehabilitation group (P< 0.05). After treatment, the VFSS and SWAL-QOL scores of the two groups were increased in comparing with those of before treatment (all P < 0.05), and the VFSS and SWAL-QOL scores of the combination group were higher than those of the rehabilitation group (both P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the combination group was 92.1% (35/38), higher than 60.1% (23/38) of the rehabilitation group. ConclusionThe acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training for pseudobulbar paralysis after stroke is more effective than rehabilitation training only. The combination of the two can significantly relieve the dysphagia and improve the patients’ quality of life.