The effects of electromyographic biofeedback on the swallowing function of stroke survivors with dysphagia / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of intensive electromyographic biofeedback ( EMGBF ) on swallowing and the velocity of hyolaryngeal excursion among stroke survivors with dysphagia. Methods Forty-two stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into a conventional rehabilitation group ( group A, n=15) , an EMGBF group (group B, n=14) and an intensive EMGBF group (group C, n=13).In addition to routine medica-tions and motor function rehabilitation training, all received 30 minutes of conventional swallowing training once a day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Group B additionally received 15 minutes of EMGBF once daily and group C twice daily. Videofluoroscopy was conducted to measure the superior and anterior excursion distances and the movement time of the hyoid bone when swallowing semi-liquid food, and the velocity was calculated. The swallowing dysfunction evaluation and a penetration-aspiration scale ( PAS) were also employed to evaluate the subjects'swallowing function before and after the treatment. Results There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in any of the measurements before the treatment. After the 4 weeks of treatment the average swallowing dysfunction evaluation and PAS scores of all three groups had improved significantly, as had the superior and anterior excursion velocity of the hyoid bone. Compared with group A, the average swallowing dysfunction evaluation and PAS scores of groups B and C had improved significantly more. The average swallowing dysfunction evaluation scores of groups B and C were not sig-nificantly different, but the average anterior and superior excursion velocity of the hyoid bone in group C was signifi-cantly higher than in group B. Conclusion EMGBF therapy has advantages over routine rehabilitation training in improving swallowing function after a stroke and speeding the velocity of the hyoid bone's excursions.