The effect of bedside exercise program on stroke patients with Dysphagia

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Stroke frequently causes dysphagia, impacting patient recovery and quality of life.
• Early and effective swallowing rehabilitation is crucial for post-stroke patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a bedside exercise program for improving swallowing function in subacute stroke patients with dysphagia.
• To assess the secondary effects of this program on mood and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 50 stroke patients with dysphagia.
• Experimental group received conventional therapy plus 1 hour/day of bedside exercises for 2 months.
• Outcomes measured via Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS), functional oral intake, dysphagia complications, tube feeding status, mood, and quality of life.

Main Results:

• The experimental group demonstrated significant improvement in oral phase swallowing function (New VFSS Scale) compared to the control group (p<0.05).
• Patients in the experimental group reported less depressive mood and better quality of life.
• No significant differences were observed in dysphagia complications or tube feeding rates between groups.

Conclusions:

• A bedside exercise program effectively enhances swallowing function in subacute stroke patients with dysphagia.
• This program offers beneficial secondary effects on mood and quality of life.
• Intensive bedside exercises are recommended to optimize rehabilitation outcomes for stroke survivors with dysphagia.