Effect of bimodal signal biofeedback on the supraglottic swallowing maneuver in patients with post-stroke dysphagia: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of bimodal signal biofeedback combining an accelerometer and a nasal airflow sensor on the supraglottic swallowing maneuver in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.

DESIGN

Prospective Randomised Controlled Trial.

SETTING

Single rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with post-stroke dysphagia.

INTERVENTION: Patients with post-stroke dysphagia were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. The control group received conventional swallowing rehabilitation therapy, including supraglottic swallowing training. The experimental group received the same conventional rehabilitation and supraglottic swallowing training, but was additionally provided with bimodal biofeedback during the maneuver sessions. The training intensity was 30 min/day, 6 days/week, for two consecutive weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), and temporal and kinematic parameters derived from videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). All VFSS parameters were defined and measured according to established protocols. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately after the 2-week intervention, and at a one-month follow-up after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the study (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group), with no attrition in either group. At both the post-treatment and one-month follow-up assessments, FOIS scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the percentage of PAS scores ≥ 6 was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group after the intervention (p = 0.026).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that supraglottic swallowing maneuver assisted with bimodal biofeedback can lead to significant improvements in swallowing function for patients with post-stroke dysphagia.