ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of surface electromyographic biofeedback (sEMG-BFB) combined with routine swallow training on dysphagic patients with cerebral infarction at recovery stage.Methods Fiftyone dysphagic patients with cerebral infarction were randomly divided into two groups:control group (26 cases) and biofeedback training group (25 cases).The control group was given routine training including orofacial function training,balloon dilatation and behavioral swallowing training,while the biofeedback training group was given behavioral swallowing training was conducted with the guidance of sEMG-BFB in addition to the routine training.Before and after the treatment,videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS) was performed to observe the opening of upper esophageal sphincter (UES).Functional oral intake scale (FOIS) was used to evaluate swallow function.Results Before treatment,there were no significant difference between the two groups in terms of FOIS score and UES opening (P ＞0.05).The FOIS score increased in both groups after treatment (P ＜ 0.05),and the FOIS score was higher in the biofeedback training group than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the number of UES complete opening and incomplete opening was 18 and 8,respectively,in the control group,versus 20 and 5,respectively,in the biofeedback training group.UES opening improved in both groups after treatment (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Routine swallowing training combined with sEMG-BFB can benefit the dysphagic patients with cerebral infarction for their UES opening and swallowing ability at recovery stage.