Observation on the Efficacy of Acupuncture at Three Tongue Points plus Vitalstim Electrical Stimulation in Treating Deglutition Disorder After Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at three tongue points plus Vitalstim electrical stimulation in treating deglutition disorder after cerebral stroke. Method Seventy patients with deglutition disorder after cerebral stroke were randomized to treatment and control groups, with 35 cases in each group. Both groups received conventional medication treatment. In addition, the treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at three tongue points plus Vitalstim electrical stimulation, while the control group was intervened by swallowing rehabilitation training. Kubota water swallowing test assessment rating, Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) score and Swallow Quality-of-life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) score in the two groups were observed before and at the end of the treatment, and the clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared. Result The Kubota water swallowing test assessment rating, SSA score and SWAL-QOL score all showed a significant change after the treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test assessment rating, SSA score and SWAL-QOL score in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 87.5％ in the treatment group and 73.3％ in the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at three tongue points plus Vitalstim electrical stimulation is an effective approach in treating deglutition disorder after cerebral stroke. It can improve swallowing function and quality of life in the patients.

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on dysphagia in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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 inferior to the midline of the jaw; and the other two points, located at 0.8 bilateral to Shanglianquan (Extra)], bilateral Fengchi (GB 20) and Fengfu (GV 16). After arrival of , 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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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 <0.05). The above scores in the observation group were better than those in the control group (both <0.05). The reducing rates of the hyoid-thyroid cartilage distance were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (both <0.05). The result in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>

Therapeutic Observation of Hypersalivation in Cerebral Palsy Predominantly Treated with Acupuncture at Three Tongue Points plus Tuina / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the three tongue points plus tuina in treating hypersalivation in cerebral palsy.Method Sixty patients with hypersalivation due to cerebral palsy were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened predominantly by acupuncture at the three tongue points plus tuina, while the control group was by tuina alone. The clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The total effective rate was 96.7% in the treatment group versus 83.3% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at the three tongue points plus tuina is an effective approach in treating hypersalivation in cerebral palsy.