Therapeutic effect of oral rehabilitation method combined with Shaker exercise on dysphagia in patients with cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of oral rehabilitation method combined with Shaker exercise on the swallowing function and the quality of life in the patients with dysphagia caused by cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 120 patients with swallowing disorder caused by cerebral infarction were randomly divided into conventional treatment group (n=30), oral rehabilitation method group (n=30), Shaker exercise group (n=30) and comprehensive therapy group (n=30). The patients in the conventional treatment group were treated with conventional treatment, while the patients in oral rehabilitation method group received oral rehabilitation method treatment in addition. The Shaker exercise group accepted Shaker exercise and conventional treatment, while the comprehensive therapy group accepted oral rehabilitation method in addition. All patients were assessed with video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and swallowing-related quality of life (SWAL-QOL), before treatment and 4-week after treatment. Results Before treatment there was no significant difference among the four groups in VFSS and SWAL-QOL scores (P>0.05). After 4-week treatment the swallowing function showed different degrees of improvement. The difference of VFSS score in the conventional treatment group was not statistically significant before treatment and 4-week after treatment (P=0.38), but it was statistically significant among the other three groups(P<0.01). After 4-week treatment there was significant difference among the four groups in VFSS score (P<0.01), and the comprehensive therapy group curative effect was significantly better than that of the other groups. The total effective rate was 96.67% in the comprehensive therapy group, 26.67% in the conventional treatment group, 66.67% in the oral rehabilitation method group, and 70.00% in the Shaker exercise group. the SWAL-QOL score in the comprehensive therapy group was higher than that of the other three groups. The average SWAL-QOL score was 187.30±10.68 in the comprehensive therapy group, (140.10±16.62) in the conventional treatment group, (161.47±24.53) in the oral rehabilitation method group, and(163.97±23.91) in the Shaker exercise group. Conclusion Application of oral rehabilitation method combined with Shaker exercise in the patients with swallowing disorder caused by cerebral infarction could effectively improve the degree of swallowing disorder and the quality of life. Key words: Dysphagia; Oral rehabilitation method; Shake exercise; Quality of life; Elder