Objective

2

To observe the clinical effect of

Kaiqiao Liyan

(opening orifices and benefiting the throat) acupuncture therapy combined with six-character exercise in treatment of post-stroke dysarthria.

Methods

2

Seventy-five patients with post-stroke dysarthria were randomly divided into a comprehensive therapy group (25 cases

1 case dropped out)

an acupuncture group (25 cases)

and a six-character exercise group (25 cases

1 case was eliminated). The patients of the three groups received basic treatment and conventional rehabilitation training. In the acupuncture group

Kaiqiao Liyan

acupuncture therapy was used at Baihui (GV20)

Sishencong (EX-HN1)

Lianquan (CV23)

three-tongue points (Extra)

Fengfu (GV16)

Yamen (GV15)

and bilateral Fengchi (GB20) and Yifeng (TE17). Acupuncture intervention was given once daily

20 min each time. In the six-character exercise group

the patients practiced the six-character exercise for 20 min each intervention

once daily. In the comprehensive therapy group

both acupuncture therapy and the six-character exercise were delivered. Once after consecutive 6 days of treatment

the intervention was discontinued for 1 day

and 2 weeks of intervention were required in each group. The patients' vocal function (loudness

maximum phonation time [MPT

]

and maximum counting ability [MCA

]

)

speech intelligibility

and the score of the modified Frenchay dysarthria evaluation table (FDET) were evaluated before and after treatment. The clinical effect was assessed in each group.

Results

2

After treatment

all three groups showed the improvements in vocal function (loudness

MPT and MCA)

speech intelligibility

and the scores of each item and the total scores of the modified FDET compared with those before treatment (

P

<

0.05). The comprehensive group demonstrated the improvements in loudness

speech intelligibility

the

scores for respiration

soft palate and speech and the total score of the modified FDET when compared with the acupuncture group and the six-character exercise group

respectively (

P

<

0.05). In the comprehensive therapy group and the six-character exercise group

the MPT

MCA and scores for laryngeal function of the modified FDET were better than those of the acupuncture group (

P

<

0.05). The speech intelligibility in the acupuncture group was superior to the six-character exercise group (

P

<

0.05). The scores for the tongue function in the modified FDET in the comprehensive therapy group and the acupuncture group were higher when compared with the six-character exercise group (

P

<

0.05). The total effective rate in the comprehensive therapy group was 88% (22/25)

higher than that of the six-character exercise group (60%

15/25) and the acupuncture group (64%

16/25

P

<

0.05)

respectively.

Conclusion

2

The combination of

Kaiqiao Liyan

acupuncture therapy and six-character exercise improves speech and vocal function in patients with post-stroke dysarthria.