title: Proof-of-principle pilot study of oropharyngeal air-pulse application in individuals with dysphagia after hemispheric stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that oropharyngeal air-pulse application is associated with increased swallowing rates in individuals with dysphagia secondary to stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stroke rehabilitation hospital or home setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of individuals (N=8) with new-onset dysphagia after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Air-pulse trains were applied to the oropharynx of 8 subjects who presented with dysphagia after hemispheric stroke. Resting swallowing rates were determined for 5 experimental conditions: baseline without air-pulse mouthpiece, baseline with mouthpiece in situ, unilateral right oropharyngeal air-pulse, unilateral left oropharyngeal air-pulse, and bilateral oropharyngeal air-pulse application. Individual swallowing responses were analyzed using a 2-SD band method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swallowing rate (swallows/min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Swallowing rates associated with bilateral air-pulse application were greater than baseline in 4 of the 8 subjects. The 4 subjects who demonstrated this response to air-pulse application had greater baseline swallowing rates than did subjects whose swallowing rates were not altered in association with air-pulse application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oropharyngeal air-pulse trains can be applied in individuals with swallowing impairment. Air-pulse application is associated with increased resting swallowing rates in some individuals with dysphagia secondary to hemispheric stroke. Further research should extend this proof-of-principle study by examining the efficacy of oropharyngeal air-pulse application in terms of improved swallowing and related outcomes in dysphagic stroke through a large randomized trial.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Theurer
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taves
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teasell
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hachinski
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000388:Air; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome