Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with functional training on swallowing dysfunction after stroke　

LOU Jun*, LIU Hua,  CHEN  Zhong-lun. Department of Neurology,

Man Yang Fu Lin hospital, Sichuan , China

【Abstract】

Objectives：This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) combined with functional training on swallowing dysfunction after stroke, compare the effects of functional training in acute and convalescent phase and observe the differences between simple training and training combined TENS therapy.

Methods：One hundred and eighteen cases of swallowing dysfunction after stroke were divided into acute and chronic groups. In acute group, patients were subsequently divided into simple routine functional training group (acute training group) and TENS combined with functional training (acute TENS combined training group) which patients received the routine functional training and TENS. All the patients in chronic group received TENS combined with training (chronic TENS combined training group). All patients in three groups had been received basic conventional medicines, and all kinds of treatments were continued for 2 weeks. The video fluoroscopic swallowing exam was applied for assessing efficacy among three groups before treatment, one week and two weeks after treatments.

Results：At two weeks after treatments, the number of patients with effectiveness were 35(87.5%) in the acute TENS combined training group, 32(82%) in the acute training group and 24(61.5%) in the chronic TENS combined training group. There was significant difference between acute groups (including acute training group and acute training combined TENS group) and chronic combined TENS group (P<0.05). between="" acute="" training="" group="" and="" tens="" combined="" the="" difference="" was="" not="" statistically="" significant="" p="">0.05).

Conclusion：Both of TENS combined with training and training alone could improve the swallowing function in acute and chronic phases of stroke. The effects in two acute groups are better than of TENS combined with training in chronic group. However, the effects appeared to be similar between two acute groups.