The efficacy of freehand respiratory training for alleviating dysphagia after stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To observe any curative effect on dysphagia of freehand respiratory training applied to hemiplegic stroke survivors.@*Methods@#Forty-eight hospitalized, hemiplegic stroke survivors were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 24. Both groups received routine stroke rehabilitation, including motor function training, exercise training, physical therapy and swallowing training. The observation group was additionally provided with barehanded breathing function training, mainly consisting of cough glottis exercise, lip constriction aspiration exercise, chest movement exercise, abdominal muscle contraction and relaxation exercise, as well as abdominal aspiration training. The intervention lasted for 6 weeks for both groups. Before and after the intervention the maximum breathing time, first and second forced volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax), standardized swallowing assessment (SSA), Kubota drinking water test (KDWT) and functional dysphagia scale (FDS) scoring were quantified for both groups.@*Results@#There was no significant difference between the two groups′ averages on any of the measurements before the intervention. Afterward, however, the average maximal breathing time, FEV1, FVC, and PImax of the observation group were all significantly higher than before the intervention and significantly higher than those of the control group. After treatment, the observation group′s average KDWT efficiency was not, however, significantly better than that of the control group. Moreover, after the treatment the average SSA and FDS of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, as well as significantly better than before the treatment.@*Conclusion@#Barehanded breathing function training can supplement routine rehabilitation to significantly improve the breathing of stroke survivors.