Effect of surface electromyographic biofeedback on the pharyngeal phase activities in patients with dysphagia after stroke / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of surface electromyographic biofeedback on the pharyngeal phase activities in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Methods Seventy-six consecutive patients with pharyngeal dysphagia after stroke admitted to the departments of rehabilitation and neurology,brain hospital affiliated to nanjing medical university from August 2014 to February 2015 were enrolled retrospectively. After excluding 40 patients,the remaining 36 patients were divided into either a conventional training group (n =19)or a biofeedback group (n =17)by using the random number table. The patients of the conventional training group received swallowing function training only,while those of the biofeedback group also received the surface electromyographic biofeedback treatment on the basis of the therapy program of the conventional training group. The patients of both groups were treated 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The assessment of swallowing angiography,the digital measurement and analysis were performed before and after treatment. The outcome measures included the degree of openness of upper esophageal sphincter (UES),0pharyngeal transit time (PTT),and the maximum displacement of the hyoid bone (HmaxD). Results (1)The proportions of UES complete opening of the conventional training group before and after training were 26. 3% (5 / 19)and 47. 4% (9 / 19)respectively. There was significant difference between before and after training (χ2 = 5. 08, P =0.020). The proportions of UES complete opening of the biofeedback group before and after training were 47.1% (8/ 17)and 82.4% (14/ 17)respectively. There was significant difference between before training and after training (χ2 =11.46,P = 0. 001). There was no significant difference in the degrees of UES complete opening before training between the conventional training group and the biofeedback group (P >0. 05). There was significant difference in the degree of UES complete opening after training between the 2 groups (χ2 =4. 63,P = 0. 040). (2)PTT of the conventional training group before and after training was 0.24 ±0.07 and 0.19 ±0.06 s respectively. PTT of the biofeedback before and after training was 0.23 ±0.06 and 0. 15 ± 0. 05 s. There was significant difference between before training and after training (F = 154. 50,P = 0. 000). There was no significant difference in PTT before training between the conventional training group and the biofeedback group (P > 0. 05). There was significant difference in PTT after training between the 2 groups (F =4.66,P = 0. 038). (3)The HmaxD distances of the conventional training group before and after training were 0. 5 ± 0. 4 and 0. 9 ± 0. 4 cm respectively,the PTT of the biofeedback training before and after training was 0. 6 ± 0. 4 and 1. 3 ± 0. 6 cm respectively. There was significant difference between before training and after training (F = 137. 56,P = 0. 000). There was no significant difference in the HmaxD distance of the conventional training group and the biofeedback training group before training (P > 0. 05). There was significant difference in the HmaxD distance after training between the 2 groups (F = 4. 29,P = 0. 033). Conclusion The surface electromyographic biofeedback therapy in combination with the conventional swallowing training for the treatment of dysphagia after stroke has the synergistic efficacy.