| Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with low-frequency electrical stimulation for dysphagia after cerebral infarction. Methods: 120 patients with dysphagia after cerebral infarction were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, an electric stimulation group and a comprehensive group. All patients in the three groups were given conventional symptomatic treatment, the patients in acupuncture group were given acupuncture treatment, those in electric stimulation group were given low-frequency electric stimulation treatment and those in comprehensive group given both the two treatments. Watian water drinking test and dysphagia scale were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Results: One and 2 weeks after treatment, the Watian drinking water test score in all 3 groups showed a gradually declined trend (P<0.01), and the score in comprehensive group was significantly lower than in acupuncture group and electric stimulation group at each time point (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between acupuncture group and electric stimulation group. One and 2 weeks after treatment, the dysphagia scale score in all 3 groups was increased as compared with that before the treatment (P<0.01), and the score in comprehensive group was significantly greater than in acupuncture group and electric stimulation group at each time point (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between acupuncture group and electric stimulation group. Two weeks after treatment, total effective rate in comprehensive group was higher than in the other two groups (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between acupuncture group and electric stimulation group. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with low-frequency electrical stimulation is significantly effective for treating dysphagia after cerebral infarction. |
