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Objective:To observe any effects of contralateral repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the swallowing motor cortex on the swallowing and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:A total of 83 stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into an ipsilesional stimulation group ( n=22), a contralesional stimulation group ( n=21), a bilateral stimulation group ( n=20), and a control group ( n=20). In addition to their conventional dysphagia training, those in the three stimulation groups received 3Hz rTMS while the control group was given fake stimulation. The treatment was administered daily for 20 minutes, 6 days a week, for 5 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, swallowing function was assessed videofluoroscopically and using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS). The oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing were evaluated using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS). Brain stem conduction was assessed using BAEPs. Results:After treatment the average DOSS scores of all 4 groups were significantly better than before the treatment. The average DOSS scores of the contralesional and bilateral sti-mulation groups were then significantly better than those of the other two groups. The sub-item and total VDS scores of all 4 groups had decreased significantly, but the average score of the bilateral stimulation group was significantly lower than the control group′s average. Ipsilesional stimulation significantly improved the VDS sub-item scores for the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, laryngeal elevation, and pharyngeal transit time compared with the control group. In the contralesional stimulation group the average total score and the VDS sub-item scores for apraxia, premature bolus loss, oral transit times, the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, vallecular residue, laryngeal elevation, coating on the pharyngeal wall, and pharyngeal transit time were significantly lower than those of the control group, on average. After the treatment the latencies of BAEP waves I, III and V and the I-III, III-V and I-V interpeak intervals had decreased significantly in all four groups, but the average latencies and intervals of the bilateral and contralesional groups were significantly shorter than those of the control group. The latencies and intervals of the bilateral stimulation group were then significantly shorter than those in the ipsilesional stimulation group on average. The average latency of wave V in the bilateral stimulation group (6.53±0.73ms) was significantly shorter than that in the contralesional stimulation group after the treatment.Conclusion:Bilateral rTMS over the swallowing motor cortex combined with conventional dysphagia training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors.
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Objective:To observe the effect of observing good swallowing on the swallowing action of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Eighteen stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=9) and a control group ( n=9). In addition to routine swallowing rehabilitation therapy, the treatment group was asked to simulate swallowing after watching a video of normal people′s swallowing action. They did so 5 times a week for 10 minutes, while the control group just watched landscape videos at the same time. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment, both groups were assessed using the eating assessment tool (EAT-10), the functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and the penetration and aspiration scale (PAS). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was also used to observe their swallowing action. Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the measurements before the treatment. After the 8 weeks of treatment the average EAT-10, FOIS and PAS scores of the treatment group were all significantly better than before the treatment and better than the control group′s averages at the time. fMRI showed significantly more areas activated in the precuneus, parietal lobe, posterior central gyrus, BA7, BA5, frontal lobe and paracentral lobule in the treatment group compared with before the intervention and also more than in the control group.Conclusions:Observing proper swallowing action can improve dysphagia and activation of the swallowing-related brain areas of stroke survivors.
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Objective:To observe the effect of applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on swallowing function and auditory evoked potentials in the brain-stems of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given 30 minutes of routine swallowing training 6 times a week for 5 weeks, while the observation group was additionally provided with two-second bursts of rTMS on the left and right brain hemispheres alternately for 20 minutes daily. The frequency was 3.0Hz and the strength was 80% of the resting motor threshold (RMT), with an interval of 10 seconds between bursts. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ swallowing was assessed using the functional communication measure (FCM) and the modified Mann swallowing capacity evaluation scale (MMASA). Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded to detect any changes in the peak latency (PL) and inter-peak latency (IPL). The clinical efficacy was also observed.Results:After the treatment, the average FCM results of both groups had improved significantly, but the observation group had improved significantly more. The average MMASA total scores and the average scores on all the sub-items had improved significantly more in the observation group except for the expressive speech disorder and anarthria scores. After the treatment, improvement was observed in respiration, anarthria, range of motion of the tongue muscles, strength of the tongue muscles, gag reflex and soft palate movement compared with before the intervention. Peak and inter-peak latencies had also improved significantly more in the observation than in the control group, on average.Conclusions:rTMS combined with conventional swallowing training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors, and shorten the PL of the BAEP so as to better regulate deglutition.
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Objective To explore the effect of robot-assisted therapy on the shoulder joint proprioception of convalescent stroke survivors.Methods Forty stroke survivors were enrolled and randomized into an experimental group (n =20) and a control group (n =20).Both groups received routine drug treatment and rehabilitation,including the traditional kinesitherapy,occupational therapy and physical therapy,but the experimental group was additionally provided with 20 minutes of robot-assisted upper limb therapy 6 times a week for 8 weeks.Before the intervention and at 4 and 8 weeks the multi-joint system (MJS) upper limb proprioception test system was used to evaluate the average trace error and test execution time of the upper limb.Shoulder joint proprioception was measured at 30° and 60° in intorsion and extorsion using an isokinetic dynamometer.Results Before the training there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of any of the assessments.After 4 and 8 weeks of training,significant improvement was observed in the measurements,and those of the experimental group were significantly better than those of the control group at the same time points.Conclusion Robot-assisted therapy can facilitate the recovery of shoulder joint proprioception after a stroke.It is worthy of application in clinical practice.
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Objective To explore the effects of action observation therapy on upper-extremity motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after cerebral infarction.Methods Forty-one cerebral infarction survivors were randomly assigned to an observation group (n =21) or a control group (n =20).Both groups were given the conventional rehabilitation treatment,while the observation group additionally received action observation therapy 20 mins per day,6 times per week for 8 weeks.Before and after the 8 weeks of treatment,both groups were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),Wolf's motor function test (WMFT) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the groups in any of the measurements.After the 8 weeks of treatment,all of the results in the treatment group were significantly better,on average,than those of the control group.Conclusions Action observation therapy can improve upper-extremity motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after stroke.
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Objective To observe effect of scalp acupuncture combined with cognitive rehabilitation training in ameliorating cognitive dysfunction in stroke patients. Methods Eighty-four stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n = 42) and a control group (n = 42 ) . All of the patients in both groups received routine therapy including cognitive rehabilitation training by professional therapists aimed at improving their orientation, perception, attention and thinking. The patients in the treatment group also received prolonged scalp acupuncture, in which the acupuncture needle remained in the scalp for 6 hours. All cases were evaluated using Loewenstein's occupational therapy cognition assessment (LOTCA) before and 10 weeks after treatment. Results The LOTCA scores were significantly different before and after treatment in both groups. The effect in the treatment group was significantly better than in the control group. Conclusions Prolonged scalp acupuncture combined with cognitive rehabilitation training can significantly improve the cognitive ability of stroke patients.
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Objective To observe the iffectiveness of comprehensive rehabilitationinterventions on stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect (USN). Methods A total of 245 cases if strijd were examined to diagnose USN. Of the 245 patients,86 cases were diagnosed as being with USN, and divided into a control group(n=43 cases) and a treatment group (n=43 cases) randomly. The control group was treated with Bobath and Rood techniques in addition to routine clinical medical interventions, while the treatment group was treated with a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol for USN in addition to the same interventions for the control group. Both groups were assessed with regard to motor, balance function, walking performance, and USN severity as well as the activities of daily living (ADL) performance. Results After 8 weeks of treatment,both groups improved, but there showed a significantly statistical difference between the 2 groups in terms of Fugl-Meyer motor function scores (P＜0.01), balance function scores (P＜0.01) Holden walding function classifications (P＜0.01), Barthel index(P＜0.001) and USN severity scores(P＜0.01). Conclusion Comprehensive USN rehabilitation intervention could improve motor, balance, walking functions and ADL performance and alleviate the USN severity in stroke patients with USN.
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@#Objective To observe the effect of scalp acupuncture combined with cognitive training on the cognitive function of stroke patients in the acute stage. Methods 68 stroke patients with cognitive disorder were divided into the treatment group (n=34) and the control group (n=34). All patients of two groups were treated with routine therapy and cognitive rehabilitation training by professional physiotherapists, but the treatment group were added with scalp acupuncture. They were regularly evaluated with Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognition Assessment (LOTCA) before and 2 months after treatment. Results The scores of LOTCA significantly improved in the two groups after treatment (P<0.05), and improvement of the treatment group was better than those of the control group（P<0.05）. Conclusion The scalp acupuncture combined with cognitive training can significantly improve the acute stroke patients with cognitive disorder.
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@#Objective To investigate the effect of occupational therapy on motor function of upper limbs and activities of daily living(ADL)of patients with hemiplegia.Methods 51 patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into the treatment group(n=26)and control group(n=25).Both two groups were received routine training,and besides,patients in the treatment group were added with occupational therapy.The motor function of upper limbs was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer scale before and after treatment,and ADL and hand function were also evaluated at same time.Results After treatment,the scores of Fugl-Meyer scale,ADL and hand function of all patients in two groups improved(P<0.05),but the therapeutic effect of the treatment group was superior to the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion The occupational therapy can strengthen the upper limbs and hands function,and effectively improve fine motors.