Efficacy and Mechanism of 'Yanjiu Needle' for Pharyngeal Dysphagia Based on sEMG Features

Dysphagia is one of the most common and serious complications following stroke. It caneasily lead to aspiration and aspiration pneumonia, reduce patients' quality of life,increase healthcare costs, and result in high mortality rates, making it a clinical issuethat urgently needs to be addressed. Current mainstream therapies have limitations:neurostimulation targets a single pathway, while rehabilitation training offers onlylimited improvement in microcirculation and suffers from low patient compliance. Althoughacupuncture shows promise, it lacks high‐quality randomized controlled evidence, and thespecific acupuncture techniques lack standardized operational protocols, limiting theirwidespread adoption. In preliminary clinical practice, Chen Xiaokai, a renownedtraditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Guangdong Province, developed the "NinePharyngeal Acupoints" (including Lianquan and Renying) based on the "resolving knots"theory. This approach can rapidly improve pharyngeal muscle tone and swallowing function.Basic research has confirmed that stimulation of these acupoints promotes pharyngealcirculation, activates the brainstem, and aids in the restoration of the swallowingreflex. This study aims to conduct a single‐center, assessor‐blinded, randomized,controlled, prospective superiority clinical trial. Using surface electromyography (EMG)as the core assessment tool, combined with swallowing videofluoroscopy and functionalscales, the study will analyze the efficacy and neuro‐muscular regulatory mechanisms ofthe "Nine Pharyngeal Acupoints" technique. The study is expected to clarify itstherapeutic efficacy, establish standard operating procedures, and provide a basis forclinical implementation.