Clinical Study on Tongue Acupuncture plus Balloon Dilatation for Deglutition Disorders Due to Achalasia of the Cricopharyngeus Muscle after Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of tongue acupuncture plus balloon dilatation in treating deglutition disorders due to achalasia of the cricopharyngeus muscle after cerebral stroke.Method Forty-eight patients with deglutition disorders due to achalasia of the cricopharyngeus muscle after cerebral stroke were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 24 cases each. The two groups both received conventional rehabilitation training. In addition, the treatment group was given tongue acupuncture plus balloon dilatation, and the control group was by balloon dilatation alone. The two groups were treated once a day, for a total of 4 weeks. The water drinking test score and Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) were evaluated before and after the treatment.Result The water drinking test and SSA scores were significantly changed after the intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the water drinking test and SSA scores in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Tongue needling plus balloon dilatation is an effective approach in treating deglutition disorders due to achalasia of the cricopharyngeus muscle after cerebral stroke.