Liuzijue qigong versus traditional breathing training for patients with post-stroke dysarthria complicated by abnormal respiratory control: Results of a single-center randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether liuzijue qigong could improve the ability of respiratory control and comprehensive speech in patients with stroke dysarthria. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: The research was carried out in the department of rehabilitation. Participants: Altogether, a total of 98 stroke patients with dysarthria participated in the study. Interventions: Patients were randomly divided into two groups (the experimental group: basic articulation + liuzijue qigong, 48 patients or the control group: basic articulation + traditional breathing training, 50 patients). All therapies were conducted once a day, five times a week for three weeks. Main measures: Primary outcome measure: Speech breathing level of the modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment. Secondary outcome measures: the modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, maximum phonation time, maximal counting ability, /s/, /z/, s/z ratio, and the loudness level. All outcome measures were assessed twice (at baseline and after three weeks). Results: At three weeks, There were significant difference between the two groups in the change of speech breathing level (81% vs 66%, P = 0.011), the modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (5.54 (4.68–6.40) vs 3.66 (2.92–4.40), P = 0.001), maximum phonation time (5.55 (4.92–6.18) vs 3.01(2.31–3.71), P < 0.01), maximal counting ability (3.08(2.45–3.71) vs 2.10 (1.53–2.67), P = 0.018), and /s/ (3.08 (2.39–3.78) vs 1.87 (1.23–2.51), P = 0.004), while no significant differences were found in the change of /z/ (3.08 (2.31–3.86) vs 2.10 (1.5–2.64), P = 0.08), s/ z ratio (1.26 (0.96–1.55) vs 1.03 (0.97–1.09), P = 0.714), and the change of loudness level (69% vs 60%, P = 0.562). Conclusions: Liuzijue qigong, combined with basic articulation training, could improve the respiratory control ability, as well as the comprehensive speech ability of stroke patients with dysarthria. Trial registration: ChiCTR-INR-16010215.

Bibliometric analysis of traditional Chinese exercises in stroke rehabilitation from 2003 to 2022 using CiteSpace

“…These methods predominantly build muscle strength and offer a limited treatment scope ( 45 ). In contrast, combining the Liuzijue technique with basic phonation training significantly enhances breath control and overall speech capabilities, aiding patients in developing a normalized speech breathing pattern ( 46 ).…”

Effects of Conventional Speech Therapy with Liuzijue Qigong, a Traditional Chinese Method of Breath Training, in 70 Patients with Post-Stroke Spastic Dysarthria

“…Treatments were administered once a day, 5 times a week, for a period of 4 weeks. In addition to the 20-min conventional speech therapy session, patients in the experimental group also received a 20-min LQG session, as detailed by the 2003 LQG standards of the General Administration of Sport [ 10 ].…”

“…It is a slow and gentle exercise that combines breathing with lip and tongue movement and is performed simultaneously with a whole-body exercise [ 8 ]. LQG has been used in the rehabilitation of respiratory disorders, cognitive impairments, stroke, and other diseases, offering advantages such as being time-saving and labor-saving and having clinical efficacy [ 8 – 10 ]. Although patients with spastic dysarthria process a normal cortical language center, their difficulties in controlling breathing, vocalization, rhythm, and resonance lead to speech impairment.…”

Penerapan Mekanisme Berbicara pada Penderita Disartria Menggunakan Media Audio Visual

“…Kebiasaan ini akan membentuk sebuah penyakit yang bernama disartria, disartria merupakan cadel, atau yang dikenal dengan ketidakmampuan melafalkan kata dengan benar [1]. Cadel bisa disebabkan karena rusaknya sistem syaraf seperti pada seseorang yang menderita stroke, tidak sempurnanya organ ucap, dan atau anak yang masih mengalami perkembangan organ bicara [2].…”