Effect of Deep Acupuncture at Tiantu Point Combined with Rehabilitation Training on Scores of Water Swallow Test and VFSS and Quality of Life in Patients with Dysphagia After Stroke
Abstract: Objective: To observe the effect of deep acupuncture at Tiantu point(CV 22) combined with rehabilitation training on scores of Water Swallow Test and Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study(VFSS) and quality of life in patients with dysphagia after stroke(DAS). Methods: A total of 90 cases of DAS patients were divided into the treatment group and the control group according to the random number table method, 45 cases in each group. The control group was given rehabilitation training, and the treatment group was given deep acupuncture at Tiantu point(CV 22) combined with rehabilitation training. The clinical effect and the incidences of adverse reactions in the two groups were compared. Before and after treatment, the swallowing function was evaluated by Water Swallow Test, degree of dysphagia by VFSS scores, quality of life by Swallowing Quality-of-Life(SWAL-QOL),and degree of neurological impairment by National Insititutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS). Results:The total effective rate was 95.56% in the treatment group,higher than that of 80.00% in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of Water Swallow Test and NIHSS in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the scores of VFSS and SWAL-QOL were increased (P<0.05);the scores of Water Swallow Test and NIHSS in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05),and the scores of VFSS and SWAL-QOL were higher(P<0.05). There was no significant difference being found in the comparison of the incidences of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion: The application of deep acupuncture at Tiantu point(CV 22) combined with rehabilitation training for DAS patients has ideal curative effect,which can effectively improve degree of dysphagia,quality of life and neurological function with good safety.