ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Tong Du Tiao Shen needling (unblocking the Governor Vessel and regulating the mind) in treating post-stroke deglutition disorders. Method Sixty patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by the random number table, 30 cases each. In addition to the conventional neurological treatment, the control group was given ordinary acupuncture, and the treatment group was given Tong Du Tiao Shen needling, 3 times a week, 10 sessions as a treatment course. The Water Swallowing Test (WST) and Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) were observed in the two groups before and after 1 course of treatment. Result The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group, significantly superior to 66.7% in the control group (P<0.05). The VFSS showed that the intra-group differences were statistically significant in comparing oral transit, pharyngeal retention and pharyngeal transit of semi-fluid food in both treatment and control groups by the paired t-test (P<0.05), and the between-group differences after the treatment were also statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Tong Du Tiao Shen needling can produce a more significant efficacy in improving the swallowing function in post-stroke dysphasia compared to ordinary acupuncture.