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. 2025 Jan;282(1):1-10.
doi: 10.1007/s00405-024-08874-9. Epub 2024 Aug 6.

Evidence based therapeutic and assessment techniques to rehabilitate post stroke dysphagia patients-A systematic review

Anam Jamil  1 , Momina Imtiaz  2 , Asma Muhammad  2 , Alina Rahat  3 , Hadia Binte Obaid  4 , Jawaria Jarral  5 , Rania Imran  2
Affiliations

Evidence based therapeutic and assessment techniques to rehabilitate post stroke dysphagia patients-A systematic review

Anam Jamil et al. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Dysphagia is most prevalent among post stroke aging adults. This systematic review was conducted to collect evidence-based data regarding assessment and therapeutic techniques used to rehabilitate post stroke dysphagia patients.

Methods: Four major databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science direct and Google scholar were searched systematically using the defined search strategy to target Randomized Controlled Trials conducted from January 2018 to 2023 using the pre-defined search strategy by three independent reviewers.

Results: After following PRISMA guidelines, fifteen articles matched the inclusion criteria. Several evidence based therapies like Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy, Effortful Swallowing Training, Tongue Pressure Strength and Accuracy Training, Electrical Stimulation of Hyoid Muscles, Modified Chin Tuck Against Resistance exercise, Oral Neuromuscular Training, and Conventional Speech Therapy with Functional Electrical Stimulation were used frequently for the treatment of old age post stroke dysphagia in different rehabilitation centers. Along with this, a list of different assessment methodologies and tools was made that were used including Functional Oral Intake Scale, Fiber optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, Penetration Aspiration Scale, Pooling Scale, Video fluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale, Iowa Oral Performance Instrument, Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability, and Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test.

Conclusion: Dysphagia is known to be serious complication of stroke. This systematic review shows a significant impact of therapeutic techniques on post stroke dysphagia patients and demonstrates that neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy is one of the most effective therapeutic techniques used to rehabilitate post stroke dysphagia patients.

Keywords: Assessment; Dysphagia; Older adults; Outcome; Speech therapy; Stroke; Systematic review; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interests: No.

References

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