title: Direct effects of Facio-Oral Tract Therapy(®) on swallowing frequency of non-tracheotomised patients with acute neurogenic dysphagia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the direct effect of Facio-Oral Tract Therapy(®) on swallowing frequency of non-tracheotomised patients with acute neurogenic dysphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within a pre-, post-/during and follow-up study design, 19 non-tracheotomised dysphagic patients were included consecutively and treated according to three specific preselected Facio-Oral Tract Therapy stimulation techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome was the direct effect of the three different Facio-Oral Tract Therapy stimulation techniques on the number of swallows. We found a significant effect of Facio-Oral Tract Therapy on swallowing frequency as compared to baseline with an increase by 65.63% and medium effect size of D = 0.62. No significant difference could be demonstrated when comparing baseline to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time, this positive therapy effect could be demonstrated on a population of non-tracheotomised patients. Facio-Oral Tract Therapy seems to be an appropriate means for improving effectiveness and safety of swallowing. Since improvement was not long lasting, it appears to be reasonable to apply therapy frequently during the day with the plausible result of minimising the amount of aspirated saliva and thereby reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Further studies may consider choosing a randomised controlled trial design to demonstrate that change in swallow frequency is related to the target intervention only.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Therapy, Prevention and Rehabilitation, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Department for Health Care & Nursing, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konradi
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Care & Nursing, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Annekatrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Therapy, Prevention and Rehabilitation, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerz
keywords: Facio-Oral Tract Therapy; deglutition; deglutition disorders; dysphagia therapy; neurogenic dysphagia; swallowing saliva