Clinical efficacy of low-frequency pulse therapy combined with ingestion-swallowing training in treatment of post-stroke dysphagia

Zhang Xin; Zhang Zhongjin; Cheng Wei; Liu Huiqing; Zhou Shanhu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-0126.2025.06.005

Abstract：Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of low-frequency pulse therapy combined with ingestion-swallowing training in the treatment of patients with post-stroke dysphagia.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 122 patients with post-stroke dysphagia admitted in our hospital from January 2022 to January 2024.According to different interventions,they were divid-ed into a control group(ingestion-swallowing training on the basis of conventional treatment,60 cases)and a combined treatment group(low-frequency pulse therapy and the treatments in the control group,62 cases).Before and after treatment,VFSS and standard swallowing assessment(SSA)were performed,hyoid bone movement displacement(hyoid bone forward and upward)and vertebrobasilar artery blood flow indicators[pulsatility index(PI),mean blood flow velocity(Vm),systolic blood flow velocity(Vs)]were observed,and serum levels of nerve growth factor(NGF)and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)were detected in all the patients.The chan-ges in quality of life(swallow quality of life questionnaire)and occurrence of complications during treatment were observed in the two groups.Results In both groups after treatment,the VFSS score,quality of life score and swallowing symptom score,hyoid bone forward and upward dis-tances,vertebrobasilar artery Vm and Vs,and serum NGF and BDNF levels were all risen signifi-cantly while the SSA score and vertebrobasilar artery PI were obviously declined when compared with the levels before treatment(P＜0.05).After treatment,the combined treatment group had more remarkably improved VFSS score,quality of life score,swallowing symptom score,hyoid bone forward and upward distances,vertebrobasilar Vm and Vs,and serum NGF and BDNF levels,and more notably declined SSA score and vertebrobasilar PI than the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).No statistical difference was seen in the total incidence of complications between the combined treatment group and control group(4.8％vs 10.0％,P＞0.05).Conclusion Com-bined low-frequency pulse therapy and ingestion-swallowing training can effectively promote the recovery of swallowing function,increase the activity of hyoid bone,promote the vertebrobasilar artery blood flow and neurotrophic conditions,and thus improve the quality of life in patients with post-stroke dysphagia,with less complications.