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Jaw opening and swallow triggering method for bilateral-brain-damaged patients: K-point stimulation
Chieko Kojima1, Ichiro Fujishima, Ruri Ohkuma
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seirei-Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. c-kojima@tokai.or.jp
Dysphagia
|October 2, 2002
Summary
Stimulating a specific oral trigger point (K-point) helps pseudobulbar palsy patients open their mouths and swallow. This technique aids in feeding and oral care for individuals with this neurological condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Oral Medicine
Background:
- Patients with pseudobulbar palsy often experience difficulties with mouth opening and swallowing.
- Clinical observations suggested a potential reflex response to stimulation of a specific oral trigger point (K-point).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of stimulating the K-point for inducing mouth opening and swallowing in brain-damaged patients.
- To determine if this stimulation technique can benefit patients with pseudobulbar palsy.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 57 brain-damaged patients (including those with pseudobulbar palsy and bulbar palsy) and 20 non-brain-damaged controls.
- Gentle stimulation of the K-point, located on the oral mucosa, was performed using a finger or tongue depressor.
Main Results:
- Pseudobulbar palsy patients with hyperactive bite reflexes exhibited mouth opening and swallowing upon K-point stimulation.
- Other pseudobulbar palsy patients responded with swallowing and mastication-like jaw movements.
- Bulbar palsy, supratentorial brain-damaged patients, and non-brain-damaged subjects showed no significant response.
Conclusions:
- K-point stimulation is a potentially useful technique for facilitating mouth opening and swallowing in pseudobulbar palsy patients.
- This method may improve oral health care and feeding for individuals with pseudobulbar palsy.