Effect of swallowing training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on dysphagia after stroke

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of swallowing training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on swallowing function recovery in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Methods Eighty-six patients with dysphagia after stroke from March 2012 to June 2016 were selected, they were randomly divided into control group A (n=25), control group B (n=28) and observation group (n=33). The control group A was given swallowing training treatment, the control group B was given neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment, the observation group was given swallowing training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment. The total effective rates, VFSS scores, SWAL-QOL scores were compared. Results The total effective rate of in control group A was 60% (15/25), and the total effective rate was 75% (21/28) in control group B, the total effective rate of observation group was 84.85% (28/33). The total effective rate of observation group was higher than that of control group B and control group A, that of control group B was higher than that of the control group A, the differences were significant (P 0.05). After 1 course of treatment, the SWAL-QOL score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group A and control group B, the differences were significant (P 0.05). Conclusions Swallowing training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation can significantly improve the patient’s clinical symptoms and quality of life, promote the recovery of swallowing function of patients with dysphagia after stroke and has high practicability and feasibility. Key words: Swallowing training; Dysphagia after stroke; Neuromuscular electrical stimulation