Clinical Study of Tongue Acupuncture in the Treatment of Dysphagia after Stroke

ZHANG Jianfeng; CHEN Yafang; ZHANG Lei; CHEN Zhongying; TAN Yanyun; TANG Liangying

doi:10.14033/j.cnki.cfmr.2025.27.001

Abstract：Objective:To assess the therapeutic response of tongue acupuncture in patients with post-stroke dysphagia(PSD).Method:Medical records of PSD patients consecutively admitted to Yangjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between October 2021 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Eighty patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled.Participants were stratified into a control group(n=40)and a tongue acupuncture group(n=40)based on the specific therapeutic regimen received.The control group was given rehabilitation therapy,while the treatment group was combined with tongue acupuncture.The differences in Water Swallowing Test(WST)grades and Standardized Swallowing Assessment(SSA)scores were compared.The therapeutic outcomes and adverse events were documented following the intervention period.Result:Baseline equivalence in WST grades and SSA scores was observed,demonstrated no significant intergroup differences(P>0.05).Post-therapy,the tongue acupuncture cohort demonstrated greater WST improvement,lower SSA scores,and higher clinical efficacy rates versus controls,differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).No adverse events occurred in either group.Conclusion:Tongue acupuncture combined with rehabilitation achieves superior dysphagia mitigation in PSD compared to rehabilitation alone,with sustained short-term effects observed at 3-month follow-up and an optimal safety trajectory.