Therapeutic effect of acupuncture on post-stroke dysphagia: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a common complication of stroke, significantly affecting patient prognosis and quality of life. Acupuncture is commonly used for treating post-stroke dysphagia in China, often combined with traditional swallowing rehabilitation training. However, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture alone on post-stroke dysphagia remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and traditional swallowing rehabilitation training in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. METHOD: A multicenter, evaluator-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted to recruit participants with post-stroke dysphagia. The experimental group received acupuncture treatment, whereas the control group received traditional swallowing rehabilitation training for 2 weeks. The Standardized Swallowing Assessment score and modified Barthel Index were compared between groups 1 and 2 weeks after the intervention. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to quantitatively evaluate the electromyographic activity in the suprahyoid and infrahyoid hyoid muscle groups. RESULT: Overall, 254 participants were included. After 1 week of intervention, there was no significant between-group difference in efficacy (p>0.05). After 2 weeks of intervention, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment score of the experimental group showed a greater decrease (-1.56, 95%CI [-2.83, -0.29], p<0.05). There was no significant between-group difference in the modified Barthel Index (2.00, 95%CI [-2.00, 6.00], p>0.05). sEMG analysis showed that after 2 weeks of intervention, participants in the experimental group experienced greater increase in the root mean square value of the suprahyoid muscle group during fluid swallowing (1.02, 95%CI [0.11, 2.27], p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may improve the swallowing function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, offering therapeutic advantages for patients with pharyngeal phase dysphagia. REGISTRATION: This study registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2000030994.