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Published on: March 1, 2015
Rehabilitation of post-stroke dysphagia using swallowing exercises: a quasi-experimental pre-post study
Bushra Alshammari1, J Silvia Edison1, Awatif Alrasheeday2
1Medical Surgical Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Post-stroke dysphagia is a common and serious complication that negatively affects patient safety, recovery, and quality of life. Swallowing exercises are considered a key rehabilitative approach; however, evidence from real-world clinical settings remains limited.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a swallowing exercise program in improving dysphagia among post-stroke patients.
Methods:
A quasi-experimental pre-post design was conducted among 29 post-stroke patients with dysphagia recruited from outpatient follow-up clinics at King Salman Specialist Hospital and King Khaled Hospital, Hail City, Saudi Arabia. Participants received structured swallowing therapy delivered by a specialized physiotherapist, followed by daily home-based exercises. Swallowing difficulty was assessed before and after the intervention using the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI).
Results:
Post-intervention assessment demonstrated a significant reduction in total DHI scores, indicating improvement in overall swallowing function. Significant improvements were also observed across the functional, physical, and emotional subscales of the DHI.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that swallowing exercises are an effective, feasible, and non-invasive intervention for improving swallowing function and reducing dysphagia-related handicap among post-stroke patients. Incorporating structured swallowing exercises into routine post-stroke rehabilitation may enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.