title: Does the addition of specific acupuncture to standard swallowing training improve outcomes in patients with dysphagia after stroke? a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of adding acupuncture to standard swallowing training for patients with dysphagia after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient and outpatient clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 124 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into two groups: acupuncture and control.
  
  
  METHODS
  The acupuncture group received standard swallowing training and acupuncture treatment. In comparison, the control group only received standard swallowing training. Participants in both groups received six days of therapy per week for a four-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measures included the Standardized Swallowing Assessment and the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale. The secondary outcome measures included the Modified Barthel Index and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life, which were assessed before and after the four-week therapy period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 120 dysphagic subjects completed the study (60 in acupuncture group and 60 in control group). Significant differences existed in the Standardized Swallowing Assessment, Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale, Modified Barthel Index, and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life scores of each group after the treatment (P < 0.01). After the four-week treatment, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (mean difference - 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 5.0 to - 0.81; P < 0.01), Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (mean difference 2.3; 95% CI 0.7 to 1.2; P < 0.01), Modified Barthel Index (mean difference 17.2; 95% CI 2.6 to 9.3; P < 0.05) and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life scores (mean difference 31.4; 95% CI 3.2 to 11.4; P < 0.01) showed more significant improvement in the acupuncture group than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture combined with the standard swallowing training may be beneficial for dysphagic patients after stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hubei Xinhua Hospital, Wuhan, China docxwg@163.com.
authors.forename: Wenguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hubei Xinhua Hospital, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Chanjuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Suiqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Zhouping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Dysphagia; acupuncture; stroke; swallowing training
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