title: [Clinical research on post-stroke dysphagia treated with nape acupuncture and rehabilitation training].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the improvement in post-stroke dysphagia after treatment of nape acupuncture and rehabilitation training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients who were in compliance with the inclusive criteria were randomized into a conventional treatment group and a nape acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one, according to the admission sequence. In the conventional treatment group, on the basis of general medication, the rehabilitation training of swallowing function was applied. In the nape acupuncture group, on the basic treatment as the conventional treatment group, nape acupuncture group was given.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, the improvements in bedside water swallowing test, SSA, VFSS and pharynx transit time were all superior to those before treatment for the patients in the two groups (all P < 0.05). The improvements in bedside water swallowing test, SSA, VFSS and pharynx transit time in the nape acupuncture group were all superior to those in the conventional treatment group (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 85.0% (34/40) in the nape acupuncture group, which was higher than 65.0% (26/40) in the conventional treatment group, indicating the significantly statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nape acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training significantly improves swallowing function of the patients after stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM, Second Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University, Suzhou 215004, Jiangsu Province, China. zhouxm90@sina.com
authors.forename: Xiang-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xian-Zeng
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bo-Lin
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*