[Therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on dysphagia in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy].

OBJECTIVE

To compare the therapeutic effects on dysphagia in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy between the combined treatment with acupuncture and rehabilitation training and the combined treatment with low-frequency electrical therapy and rehabilitation training and to explore its more effective therapy, using the ultrasonographic examination.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients of dysphagia in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The rehabilitation treatment was provided in the two groups. Additionally, in the observation group, acupuncture was used at the three-tongue points [Shanglianquan (Extra), located in the depression between the lingual bone and the border of lower jaw, 1 cun inferior to the midline of the jaw; and the other two points, located at 0.8 cun bilateral to Shanglianquan (Extra)], bilateral Fengchi (GB 20) and Fengfu (GV 16). After arrival of qi, the last two tongue-points were stimulated with electricity, with disperse-dense wave, periodically at 2 Hz, 10 Hz and 100 Hz, at the interval of 3 s, lasting for 30 min. Bilateral Fengchi (GB 20) was stimulated with electricity, with disperse-dense wave and the same frequency as above, lasting for 30 min. In the control group, the low-frequency electrical stimulation was adopted. The electrodes were placed on the bilateral sides of the midline of the throat, 30 min each time. The treatment was for 1 month in the two groups, once a day. The scores of the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) and the videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS) were observed and the reducing rate of the hyoid-thyroid cartilage distance was determined with ultrasound quantitative measure.

RESULTS

After treatment, SSA scores of the two groups were all lower than those before treatment and VFSS scores were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05). The above scores in the observation group were better than those in the control group (both P<0.05). The reducing rates of the hyoid-thyroid cartilage distance were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05). The result in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The treatments with acupuncture and rehabilitation training or with the low-frequency electrical therapy and rehabilitation obtain the effects on dysphagia in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy in the patients. The effects of the combined treatment with acupuncture and rehabilitation training are better. The ultrasonographic technology effectively and quantitatively analyzes the changes in the glossopharyngeal complex in the patients of dysphagia.