Outcomes of Swallowing Rehabilitation After Stroke

University of Canterbury

Status

Completed

Conditions

Cerebrovascular Accident

Dysphagia

Stroke

Treatments

Behavioral: dysphagia rehabilitation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00288834

NZ CMRF 01/10

HSF NA 4992

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project proposes to evaluate the relative effectiveness of four therapy protocols for pharyngeal phase swallowing impairment in the stroke population. Data derived from this study should contribute significantly to our understanding of the rehabilitative process in the neurogenic dysphagic population and will provide the foundation for the establishment of efficacious, cost-efficient patient services.

Research Question to be addressed
The utilization of SEMG biofeedback monitoring in dysphagia rehabilitation facilitates more rapid and complete recovery than traditional rehabilitation using the same swallowing exercises without exteroceptive feedback.
Swallowing rehabilitation provided in an intensive rehabilitative programme (10 hrs of treatment in the 1st week) facilitates more rapid and complete recovery than traditionally scheduled swallowing rehabilitation (twice weekly).

Full description

This multi-site, multi-national project will evaluate the relative effectiveness of four therapy protocols for pharyngeal phase swallowing impairment in the stroke population. For this study, patients with chronic dysphagia secondary to stroke will be assigned to one of four treatment protocols. These four protocols differ in respect to the intensity of treatment and the inclusion of surface electromyography (SEMG) biofeedback as an adjunct to treatment. All patients will complete a total of 30 hours of therapy with data collection to assess progress at intervals of every 10 sessions. Treatment outcomes will be measured using a combination of physiologic and behavioral measures. Data derived from this study should contribute significantly to our understanding of the rehabilitative process in the neurogenic dysphagic population and will provide the foundation for the establishment of efficacious, cost-efficient patient services.

Sex

All

Ages

21+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Subjects will represent the diagnostic categories of single event brain stem injury, right cortical stroke and left cortical stroke.
Chronic dysphagia at least 6 months post onset secondary to single neurological event, brain stem, right cortical or left cortical stroke confirmed with CT or MRI
Diagnosis of chronic pharyngeal phase dysphagia based on clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluation completed within 3 weeks of beginning treatment.
Must be at least 12 months post onset with no substantial recovery of swallowing function. If patients have received prior swallowing treatment, they must be at least three months post the termination of direct treatment.
Mini Mental Status Exam score >21

Exclusion criteria