The Effect of Bedside Exercise Program on Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of a bedside exercise program on the recovery of swallowing after a stroke.MethodFifty stroke patients with dysphagia (<6 months post-stroke) were enrolled and classified into two groups, the experimental (25 subjects) and control groups (25 subjects). The control group was treated with conventional swallowing therapy. The experimental group received additional bedside exercise training, which consisted of oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and respiratory exercises, 1 hour per day for 2 months, and they were instructed regarding this program through the nursing intervention. All patients were assessed for their swallowing function by Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS), using the New VFSS scale, the level of functional oral intake, the frequency of dysphagia complications, the presence (or not) of tube feeding, the mood state and quality of life before the treatment and at 2 months after the treatment.ResultsAfter 2 months of treatment, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the swallowing function at the oral phase in the New VFSS Scale than that of the control group (p<0.05). Further, they also showed less depressive mood and better quality of life than the control group. However, there was no significant change in the incidence of dysphagia complication and the presence (or not) of tube feeding between the two groups.ConclusionBedside exercise program showed an improvement of swallowing function and exhibited a positive secondary effect, such as mood state and quality of life, on subacute stroke patients with dysphagia. For improvement of rehabilitation results on subacute stroke patients with dysphagia, this study suggests that additional intensive bedside exercise would be necessary.

Dysphagia: implications for older people

“…[138][139][140][141][142][143] These may or may not be combined with other techniques such as electrical or sensory stimulation. [138][139][140][141][142][143] These may or may not be combined with other techniques such as electrical or sensory stimulation.…”

Dysphagia therapy in stroke: a survey of speech and language therapists

“…A recent study of 50 dysphagic patients within the first 6 months post‐stroke indicated improved functional swallowing status and quality‐of‐life measures as a result of a mixed dysphagia exercise programme compared with ‘conventional swallowing therapy’ consisting of thermotactile stimulation (Kang et al . ). However, there was no random allocation into groups or blinding and therefore there is a considerable risk of confounding and bias in this study.…”

Temporal trends in oral intake ability 3 months after acute ischaemic stroke: Analysis of a single-centre database from 2003 to 2011

“…With marked advances in acute stroke treatment, including thrombolytic therapy, hyperacute interventional procedures, and various medical approaches, outcomes of stroke patients have improved gradually (8,9). In addition, various attempts with regard to rehabilitation for dysphagic patients, such as bedside exercises (10), effortful swallowing training (11), electrical stimulation (11,12), and thermal or chemical stimulation (13), also contribute, although their impact on stroke outcomes remains unclear.…”