Effects of expiratory muscle strength training on swallowing function in acute stroke patients with dysphagia

Abstract

[Purpose] This study was conducted to identify the effects of expiratory muscle strength training on swallowing function in acute stroke patients with dysphagia. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 18 stroke patients with dysphagia were enrolled in the study. All participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=9) or a control group (n=9). All participants performed traditional-swallowing rehabilitation therapy in 30-minute sessions five times a week for four weeks; however, only the experimental group received expiratory muscle strength training. [Results] Both groups showed significant improvements after mediation. When compared with the control group, the functional dysphagia scale, vallecular residue, and penetration-aspiration scale were significantly improved in the experimental group. [Conclusion] Expiratory muscle strength training is an effective intervention for impaired swallowing function in acute strike patients with dysphagia.

The influence of training variables on lingual strength and swallowing in adults with and without dysphagia

“…Eighteen studies 4,9,12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] were included in our analysis, totalling 374 adults ( Table 1). Ten of the 18 studies targeted healthy adults, 4,9,12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] while the other eight studies [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] targeted patients with dysphagia. In studies involving healthy individuals, two studies compared tongue strength training vs. a non-exercise control group, 12,14 six studies were composed of only a tongue strength training group, 4,15,16,[18][19][20] one study had two different tongue strength training interventions, 17 and one study compared three different tongue strength interventions and an exercise control group (lip compression).…”

“…9 Seven studies involving patients with dysphagia compared therapy interventions vs. tongue strength training plus therapy interventions. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Participants of six of the eight studies involving dysphagia were stroke survivors. 21,23,[25][26][27][28] All studies 4,9,12,14-28 involved men and women; however, it was not possible to identify the number of men and women in each intervention group in three studies 12,17,22 (Table 1).…”

“…[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Participants of six of the eight studies involving dysphagia were stroke survivors. 21,23,[25][26][27][28] All studies 4,9,12,14-28 involved men and women; however, it was not possible to identify the number of men and women in each intervention group in three studies 12,17,22 (Table 1). In studies involving healthy individuals, five studies were composed of young adults, 12,14,16,18,19 four studies were composed of older individuals, 4,9,17,20 and one had both young and older adults.…”

“…In studies involving healthy individuals, five studies were composed of young adults, 12,14,16,18,19 four studies were composed of older individuals, 4,9,17,20 and one had both young and older adults. 15 Although all studies with dysphagic patients were composed of older patients (according to the mean patients age reported), [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] four studies were composed of young and older patients, [20][21][22]24 and the other four studies did not report the patients' age range. 24,[26][27][28] Table 1 shows additional information about participants' characteristics from the included studies.…”

“…15 Although all studies with dysphagic patients were composed of older patients (according to the mean patients age reported), [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] four studies were composed of young and older patients, [20][21][22]24 and the other four studies did not report the patients' age range. 24,[26][27][28] Table 1 shows additional information about participants' characteristics from the included studies.…”