"Opening The Orifices And Alleviating Throat Obstruction" Four-step Acupuncture Method Combined with Motor Imagery...

Stroke is a disease with one of the highest disability rates, frequently associated with multiple functional impairments. Among these, dysphagia is a relatively common complication, with an incidence rate exceeding 30%. PSD not only causes malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia but also prolongs hospital stays and severely compromises patients' quality of life. Both the "Opening the Orifices and Alleviating Throat Obstruction" four-step acupuncture technique (a TCM therapy) and motor imagery (MI) therapy are effective for PSD. However, the efficacy of combining this specific acupuncture technique with MI remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the safety and effectiveness of integrating the "Opening the Orifices and Alleviating Throat Obstruction" four-step acupuncture technique with MI therapy for PSD rehabilitation. Patients were randomized into two groups: the control group received standard rehabilitation, while the treatment group received the combined acupuncture and MI therapy in addition to standard care. Outcomes were assessed using the Water Swallowing Test (WST), Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS). The results demonstrated that after 28 days of treatment, the WST and PAS scores decreased in both groups relative to pre-treatment levels, while the FOIS scores increased. Furthermore, the WST and PAS scores in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group, and the FOIS score was higher, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The treatment group scored higher than the control group in three dimensions of the Nurse-Patient Satisfaction Nursing Scale (NPSNS): medical professional level, clinical treatment effect, and overall satisfaction. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the scores for the two dimensions of hardware environment configuration and medical service experience between the two groups (P > 0.05). These results highlight the efficacy of the combined treatment approach in enhancing swallowing function and minimizing leakage and aspiration.