Therapeutic efficacy of swallowing neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with acupuncture for post-stroke dysphagia

Abstract

ObjectiveTo seek a better therapy for treating post-stroke dysphagia. MethodsPatients with stroke and swallowing disorders were randomly divided into ordinary acupuncture group (group A, 58 cases) and swallowing neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with acupuncture group (group B, 62 cases). Two-group patients were given the same basic internal medical treatment. In addition, group A was given normal acupuncture treatment with the choice of local points: Jīnjīn (▪ EX-HN 12), Yùyè (▪ EX-HN 13), Fēngchí (▪ GB 20), Yìfēng (▪ TE 17), Liánquán (▪ CV 23), Wángŭ (▪ GB 12). Group B was given swallowing neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with acupuncture: GB 20, Fēngfŭ (▪ GV 16), TE 17, Yìmíng (▪ EX-HN 14), Yămén (▪ GV 15), Tiānróng (▪ SI 17), Tiānchuāng (▪ SI 16), CV 23, the uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulation was used; EX-HN 12, EX-HN 13, the piercing and blood-letting method (1-2 mL blood) was used; at the same time, the swallowing neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy device was used to electrically stimulate the nerves and muscles in the throat and neck at specific output pulse current (50-100 Hz). Treatment was made twice a day, 30 minutes each time. Two weeks after the treatment, the patients were assessed in symptoms improvement and clinical efficacy. ResultsThe total effective rate in group B was 91.4% and 75.8% in group A; in the total efficiency comparison in both groups, χ2=5.232, P<0.05. The difference in improvement of symptoms with post-stroke dysphagia treated with above mentioned combination treatment was statistically significant between both groups (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe above mentioned swallowing neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with acupuncture treatment has a better clinical effect when compared with ordinary acupuncture.