Effects of motor and sensory stimulation in stroke patients with long-lasting dysphagia

Research progress on transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke dysphagia

Dysphagia is one of the most common manifestations of stroke, which can affect as many as 50–81% of acute stroke patients. Despite the development of diverse treatment approaches, the precise mechanisms underlying therapeutic efficacy remain controversial. Earlier studies have revealed that the onset of dysphagia is associated with neurological damage. Neuroplasticity-based transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a recently introduced technique, is widely used in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) by increasing changes in neurological pathways through synaptogenesis, reorganization, network strengthening, and inhibition. The main objective of this review is to discuss the effectiveness, mechanisms, potential limitations, and prospects of TMS for clinical application in PSD rehabilitation, with a view to provide a reference for future research and clinical practice.

Relationship between dysphagia severity and head and neck proprioception in patients with neurological disorders

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dysphagia severity and head and neck proprioception in patients with neurological diseases.

Methods

Twenty-six patients with neurological diseases who received the modified barium swallowing study (MBSS) were included. Dysphagia severity was assessed with the penetration aspiration scale (PAS). Patients were divided into two groups according to their PAS scores as “with dysphagia” (n = 15) and “without dysphagia” (n = 11). Active range of motion (AROM) and muscle strength were measured. Proprioception measurement of the cervical region was performed with a laser marker placed on the head of the patients, and the deviation from the middle target was noted in centimeters.

Results

There was no difference between groups in terms of gender, age, height, weight, diagnosis, AROM, and the muscle strength of the cervical region (p > 0.05). A moderate, positive correlation was found between dysphagia severity and the results of proprioception in terms of neck flexion, extension, and left rotation (r = 0.48, p = 0.01; r = 0.58, p = 0.002; r = 0.42, p = 0.02, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in proprioception measurements of neck flexion, extension, and left rotation between groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, patients’ decreased head and neck proprioception is related to severe dysphagia. Therefore, a holistic approach should be followed for swallowing function, and head and neck proprioception should be considered in dysphagia management.

Effects of Skin Stimulation on Sensory-Motor Networks Excitability: Possible Implications for Physical Training in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Background

Many different trials were assessed for rehabilitation of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with non-unique results. Beside the effects on muscle trophism, some of the encouraging results of physical training could be ascribed to the modulation of cortical excitability, which was found hyperexcited in ALS.

Objective

The effects of tactile skin stimulation in the modulation of the sensory-motor integrative networks in healthy subjects were assayed through the paired associative stimulation (PAS) protocol.

Methods

In total, 15 healthy subjects were enrolled. In the standard PAS session, the average amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP) after 10 stimuli of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was measured at the baseline and after the PAS protocol (0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min). In the skin stimulation session, the average amplitude of the MEP was measured before and after 10 min of skin stimulation over the hand. Subsequently, each subject underwent the PAS stimulation and the measure of the average amplitude of the MEP (0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min).

Results

The tactile skin stimulation on healthy subjects increases the PAS-induced sensory-motor network hyperexcitability in healthy subjects.

Conclusion

Skin stimulation should be avoided in the physiotherapeutic approaches for patients with ALS, given the possible hyperexciting effects on the already upmodulated sensory-motor networks. They can be taken into account for diseases characterized by downregulation of cortical and transcortical networks.

The Persian version of the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS-P): a validation study on stroke patients with dysphagia

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to validate the Persian version of the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS-P) for stroke patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The current study was conducted in two phases: (1) translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the FOIS into Persian and (2) validation of the FOIS-P. Phase 1 included forward translation, synthesis, back-ward translation, expert panel, and pretesting. To validate the FOIS-P, inter-rater reliability, cross-validity, and sensitivity to change of the scale were investigated. To evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the FOIS-P, two speech-language pathologists, who were blind to the study aims and procedure, applied the FOIS-P to assess the oral intake of 60 stroke survivors. The cross-validity was assessed by investigating the correlation between the FOIS scores and the Video Fluoroscopy Swallowing Study (VFSS). Also, we applied the FOIS-P on 60 patients with stroke at three different times to investigate the sensitivity to change.

RESULTS

Inter-rater reliability of the FOIS-P was excellent according to Cohen's Kappa calculation (K = 0.89, p<.001). Investigation of cross-validity showed that there were significant correlations between the FOIS scores and presence of dysphagia, presence of aspiration, and severity of dysphagia (p<.001). The changes of the FOIS-P scores over follow-ups revealed that the FOIS-P was sensitive to the patient's oral intake changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The FOIS-P is a valid and reliable tool for assessing oral intake in stroke survivors with dysphagia. Hence, the FOIS-P may be suitable for clinical and research in the field of stroke.

Oral neuromuscular training in patients with dysphagia after stroke: a prospective, randomized, open-label study with blinded evaluators

BACKGROUND

Oral and pharyngeal swallowing dysfunction are common complications in acute stroke patients. This primary aim of this study was to determine whether oral neuromuscular training improves swallowing function in participants with swallowing dysfunction after stroke. A secondary aim was to assess how well results of the timed water-swallow test (TWST) correspond with swallowing dysfunction diagnosed by videofluoroscopy (VFS).

METHODS

This was an intention-to-treat two-centre prospective randomized open-label study with blinded-evaluators (PROBE) design. At 4 weeks after stroke onset, participants with swallowing dysfunction were randomized to 5 weeks of continued orofacial sensory-vibration stimulation with an electric toothbrush or additional oral neuromuscular training with an oral device (Muppy®). Participants were examined with TWST, a lip-force test, and VFS before (baseline), after 5 weeks' treatment (the end-of-treatment), and 12 months after treatment (follow-up). The baseline VFS results were compared with the TWST results. The primary endpoint was changes in swallowing rate assessed using TWST, from baseline to the end of training and from baseline to follow-up based on intention-to-treat analyses. The secondary endpoint was the corresponding changes in lip-force between baseline, the end of treatment, and follow-up.

RESULTS

The participants were randomly assigned as controls (n = 20) or for intervention with oral neuromuscular training (n = 20). After treatment, both groups had improved significantly (intervention, P < 0.001; controls, P = 0.001) in TWST but there was no significant between-group difference in swallowing rate. At the 12-month follow-up, the intervention group had improved further whereas the controls had deteriorated, and there were significant between-group differences in swallowing rate (P = 0.032) and lip force (P = 0.001). A TWST < 10 mL/sec at baseline corresponded to VFS-verified swallowing dysfunction in all assessed participants.

CONCLUSION

The 5-week oral neuromuscular training improved swallowing function in participants with post-stroke dysphagia compared with the controls 12 months after intervention, but there was no between-group difference in improvement immediately after treatment. TWST results corresponded with VFS results, making TWST a feasible method for identifying persons with swallowing dysfunction after stroke. Larger randomized controlled trials are required to confirm our preliminary positive long-term results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT04164420 . Registered on 15 November 2019.

A Systematic Review of Physical Rehabilitation of Facial Palsy

Background: Facial palsy is a frequent and debilitating sequela of stroke and brain injury, causing functional and aesthetic deficits as well as significant adverse effects on quality of life and well-being. Current literature reports many cases of acquired facial palsy that do not recover spontaneously, and more information is needed regarding the efficacy of physical therapies used in this population. Methods: A systematic search of eight electronic databases was performed from database inception to December 2018. Gray literature searches were then performed to identify additional articles. Studies were included if they addressed physical rehabilitation interventions for adults with acquired facial palsy. Reasons for exclusion were documented. Independent data extraction, quality assessment, and risk of bias assessment followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Following abstract screening, a total of 13 full-text articles were identified for independent screening by two reviewers. This included four randomized control trials, two non-randomized control trials, one cohort study, and six prospective case series studies. Twelve out of the 13 included studies reported on facial palsy as a sequela of stroke. A total of 539 participants received intervention for facial palsy across the 13 included studies. Therapy design, length and frequency of intervention varied across the studies, and a wide range of outcome measures were used. Improvement on various outcome measures was reported across all 13 studies. The quality of the evidence was low overall, and most studies were found to have high risk of bias. Conclusions: All the studies in this review report improvement of facial movement or function following application of various methods of physical rehabilitation for facial palsy. Methodological limitations and heterogeneity of design affect the strength of the evidence and prevent reliable comparison between intervention methods. Strong evidence supporting physical rehabilitation was not found; well-designed rigorous research is required.

The effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with traditional dysphagia therapy on poststroke dysphagia: a pilot double-blinded randomized-controlled trial

Dysphagia following stroke is common and can lead to severe complications such as aspiration pneumonia, but there is inconclusive evidence on how poststroke dysphagia should be treated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with the traditional dysphagia therapy on the swallowing function in patients with poststroke dysphagia. In this pilot double-blind randomized clinical trial, 18 patients with poststroke dysphagia were allocated randomly to three groups: (i) traditional dysphagia therapy, (ii) rTMS, and (iii) combined intervention. Patients received traditional dysphagia therapy for 18 treatment sessions three times per week. The inhibitory rTMS was applied to the intact cerebral hemisphere at 1 Hz with a train of 1200 for 5 consecutive days. The patients in the combined intervention group received traditional dysphagia therapy and rTMS simultaneously. The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) and Functional Oral Intake Scale were performed before treatment, after the end of the fifth session, after the end of the 10th session, after the end of the 15th session, and after the end of the 18th session. All groups had improved on MASA and Functional Oral Intake Scale scores over time (P<0.01). The improvements achieved in all outcomes were significantly greater in the combined intervention group than those of the traditional dysphagia therapy and rTMS groups. The large effect sizes were found for the MASA score in all groups: traditional dysphagia therapy group (d = 3.57), rTMS group (d = 2.67), and combined intervention group (d = 3.87). This pilot randomized-controlled trial showed that the combination of rTMS and traditional dysphagia therapy significantly improved swallowing function in patients with poststroke dysphagia.

Assessment of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction in Patients with Stroke

GOAL

The aim of this study was to assess temporomandibular joint dysfunction in patients with stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total of 100 participants, 50 healthy and 50 who had stroke, were recruited into this study. Digital caliper and algometer were used to assess temporomandibular joint range of motion and masticatory muscle pressure pain threshold. Labial commissure angle measurement was used for the assessment of facial paralysis severity. Fonseca questionnaire was used for temporomandibular joint dysfunction assessment and categorization. In addition, dominant mastication shift was measured by the question that asks the pre and poststroke dominant mastication side.

FINDINGS

In intergroup comparison, significant decrease was found in all temporomandibular range of motion parameters in favor of stroke group (P < .05). Despite the fact that no significant difference was found between groups for the pain threshold in masticatory muscles except for middle part of the left temporalis muscle, values were higher in healthy group (P > .05). As a result of intergroup examination of labial commissure angle degree, Fonseca questionnaire score, it was found that labial commissure angle and Fonseca questionnaire scores were higher in stroke group (P < .05). Intragroup examination of patients with stroke showed that dominant mastication side shift was seen in patients with stroke (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that, temporomandibular joint dysfunction prevalence was higher in stroke group compared with healthy group and use of modalities specific to temporomandibular joint dysfunction treatment would be beneficial.

Complete dentures for a patient after a stroke by means of orofacial myofunctional therapy: A clinical report

After a stroke, patients frequently show compromised swallowing, mastication, and speech, as well as unfavorable motion and deviation of the tongue and mandible. The dentist can improve the oral rehabilitation of a patient with deteriorated facial and oral muscles after a stroke by incorporating orofacial myofunctional therapy. This report describes a method for tongue exercises and correction of mandible deviation in an edentulous patient after a stroke by using a pearl on a wire in the anteriomedian palatal part of the maxillary denture.

Oro-facial impairment in stroke patients

Stroke is considered one of the leading causes of death and acquired disability with a peak prevalence over the age of 80 years. Stroke may cause debilitating neurological deficiencies that frequently result in sensory deficits, motor impairment, muscular atrophy, cognitive deficits and psychosocial impairment. Oro-facial impairment may occur due to the frequent involvement of the cranial nerves' cortical representation areas, central nervous system pathways or motoneuron pools. The aim of this narrative, non-systematic review was to discuss the implications of stroke on oro-facial functions and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Stroke patients demonstrate an impaired masticatory performance, possibly due to reduced tongue forces and disturbed oral sensitivity. Furthermore, facial asymmetry is common, but mostly discrete and lip restraining forces are reduced. Bite force is not different between the ipsi- and contra-lesional side. In contrast, the contra-lesional handgrip strength and tongue-palate contact during swallowing are significantly impaired. OHRQoL is significantly reduced mainly because of the functional impairment. It can be concluded that impaired chewing efficiency, dysphagia, facial asymmetry, reduced lip force and OHRQoL are quantifiable symptoms of oro-facial impairment following a stroke. In the absence of functional rehabilitation, these symptoms seem not to improve. Furthermore, stroke affects the upper limb and the masseter muscle differently, both, at a functional and a morphological level. The rehabilitation of stroke survivors should, therefore, also seek to improve the strength and co-ordination of the oro-facial musculature. This would in turn help improve OHRQoL and the masticatory function, subsequently preventing weight loss and malnutrition.

Effect of IQoro® training on impaired postural control and oropharyngeal motor function in patients with dysphagia after stroke

Conclusion All patients with dysphagia after stroke have impaired postural control. IQoro® screen (IQS) training gives a significant and lasting improvement of postural control running parallel with significant improvement of oropharyngeal motor dysfunction (OPMD). Objectives The present investigation aimed at studying the frequency of impaired postural control in patients with stroke-related dysphagia and if IQS training has any effect on impaired postural control in parallel with effect on OPMD. Method A prospective clinical study was carried out with 26 adult patients with stroke-related dysphagia. The training effect was compared between patients consecutively investigated at two different time periods, the first period with 15 patients included in the study more than half a year after stroke, the second period with 11 patients included within 1 month after stroke. Postural control tests and different oropharyngeal motor tests were performed before and after 3 months of oropharyngeal sensorimotor training with an IQS, and at a late follow-up (median 59 weeks after end of training). Result All patients had impaired postural control at baseline. Significant improvement in postural control and OPMD was observed after the completion of IQS training in both intervention groups. The improvements were still present at the late follow-up.

Effect of oral IQoro R and palatal plate training in post-stroke, four-quadrant facial dysfunction and dysphagia: A comparison study

CONCLUSION

Training with either a palatal plate (PP) or an oral IQoro(R) screen (IQS) in patients with longstanding facial dysfunction and dysphagia after stroke can significantly improve facial activity (FA) in all four facial quadrants as well as swallowing capacity (SC). Improvements remained at late follow-up. The training modalities did not significantly differ in ameliorating facial dysfunction and dysphagia in these patients. However, IQS training has practical and economic advantages over PP training.

OBJECTIVES

This study compared PP and oral IQS training in terms of (i) effect on four-quadrant facial dysfunction and dysphagia after a first-ever stroke, and (ii) whether the training effect persisted at late follow-up.

METHODS

Patients were included during two periods; 13 patients in 2005-2008 trained with a PP, while 18 patients in 2009-2012 trained with an IQS. Four-quadrant facial dysfunction was assessed with an FA test and swallowing dysfunction with a SC test: before and after a 3-month training period and at late follow-up. FA and SC significantly improved (p < 0.001) in both groups. FA test scores after training and at late follow-up did not differ significantly between the groups, irrespective of whether the interval between stroke incidence and the start of training was long or short.

Effect of IQoro(R) training in hiatal hernia patients with misdirected swallowing and esophageal retention symptoms

CONCLUSION

Misdirected swallowing can be triggered by esophageal retention and hiatal incompetence. The results show that oral IQoro(R) screen (IQS) training improves misdirected swallowing, hoarseness, cough, esophageal retention, and globus symptoms in patients with hiatal hernia.

OBJECTIVES

The present study investigated whether muscle training with an IQS influences symptoms of misdirected swallowing and esophageal retention in patients with hiatal hernia.

METHODS

A total of 28 adult patients with hiatal hernia suffering from misdirected swallowing and esophageal retention symptoms for more than 1 year before entry to the study were evaluated before and after training with an IQS. The patients had to fill out a questionnaire regarding symptoms of misdirected swallowing, hoarseness, cough, esophageal retention, and suprasternal globus, which were scored from 0-3, and a VAS on the ability to swallow food. The effect of IQS traction on diaphragmatic hiatus (DH) pressure was recorded in 12 patients with hiatal hernia using high resolution manometry (HRM).

RESULTS

Upon entry into the study, misdirected swallowing, globus sensation, and esophageal retention symptoms were present in all 28 patients, hoarseness in 79%, and cough in 86%. Significant improvement was found for all symptoms after oral IQS training (p < 0.001). Traction with an IQS resulted in a 65 mmHg increase in the mean HRM pressure of the DH.

Functional outcome in acute stroke patients with oropharyngeal Dysphagia after swallowing therapy

Dysphagia after stroke is associated with mortality and increased pulmonary complications. Swallowing therapies may decrease pulmonary complications and improve patients' quality of life after stroke. This study used clinical swallowing assessments and videofluoroscopy (VFS) to assess the functional recovery of acute stroke patients with dysphagia after different swallowing therapies. We enrolled 29 acute stroke patients with dysphagia and randomly divided them into 3 therapy groups: traditional swallowing (TS), oropharyngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and combined NMES/TS. All patients were assessed using the clinical functional oral intake scale (FOIS), 8-point penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), and functional dysphagia scale (FDS) of VFS before and after treatment. There were no differences in the clinical parameters and swallowing results of the FOIS and VFS before swallowing treatment among the 3 groups (P > .05). TS therapy and combined therapy both had significant swallowing improvement after therapy according to the FOIS and 8-point PAS (P < .05). When comparing the results of the VFS among the 3 groups, we found significant improvements in patients eating cookies and thick liquid after combined NMES/TS therapy (P < .05). In acute stroke patients with dysphagia, combined NMES/TS therapy is the most effective swallowing therapy in taking solid diets and thick liquids.

Four-quadrant facial function in dysphagic patients after stroke and in healthy controls

This study aims to examine any motility disturbance in any quadrant of the face other than the quadrant innervated by the lower facial nerve contralateral to the cortical lesion after stroke. Thirty-one stroke-afflicted patients with subjective dysphagia, consecutively referred to a swallowing centre, were investigated with a facial activity test (FAT) in all four facial quadrants and with a swallowing capacity test (SCT). Fifteen healthy adult participants served as FAT controls. Sixteen patients were judged to have a central facial palsy (FP) according to the referring physician, but all 31 patients had a pathological FAT in the lower quadrant contralateral to the cortical lesion. Simultaneous pathology in all four quadrants was observed in 52% of stroke-afflicted patients with dysphagia; some pathology in the left or right upper quadrant was observed in 74%. Dysfunction in multiple facial quadrants was independent of the time interval between stroke and study inclusion. All patients except two had a pathological SCT. All the controls had normal activity in all facial quadrants. In summary the majority of poststroke patients with dysphagia have subclinical orofacial motor dysfunction in three or four facial quadrants as assessed with a FAT. However, whether subclinical orofacial motor dysfunction can be present in stroke-afflicted patients without dysphagia is unknown.

Isolated numbness of the tip of the tongue in hemispheric stroke

Although the somatosensory afferent of the tip of the tongue runs proximal and parallel along the spinothalamocortical and trigeminothalamocortical pathway up to the sensory cortex, central involvement has been rarely described in cases of nongustatory sensory disturbance at the tip of the tongue. In a hypertensive woman who experienced an acute onset of an isolated numbness at the tip of her tongue, recent small infarctions were found at the postcentral gyrus of the right parietal lobe. Thus, central involvement should not be neglected in the case of sensory disturbance at the tip of tongue.

Influence of lip force on swallowing capacity in stroke patients and in healthy subjects

CONCLUSION

In spite of no clinical signs of facial paresis, a pathological lip force (LF) will strongly influence swallowing capacity (SC). Stroke patients with impaired SC suffer a subclinical facial paresis. The results support earlier findings that LF training can be used to treat dysphagia.

OBJECTIVES

Lip muscle training with an oral screen can improve both LF and SC in stroke patients, irrespective of the presence or absence of facial palsy. The aim was therefore to study the influence of LF on SC.

METHODS

This prospective study included 22 stroke patients, aged 38–90 years, with dysphagia, 12 with initial unilateral facial paresis and 45 healthy subjects, aged 25–87 years. All were investigated with a Lip Force Meter (LF100), and with an SC test.

RESULTS

A significant correlation was found between LF/SC (p = 0.012) in stroke patients but not in healthy subjects. LF/SC was not age-related in stroke patients. LF was not age-dependent in healthy subjects, but SC decreased with increasing age (p < 0.0001). However, SC did not reach a pathological value and a regression analysis showed that 73% of the variation in SC is attributable to LF and age.

Effects of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia by speech and language therapists: a systematic review

Medical and paramedical treatments should be evaluated according to current standards of evidence-based medicine. Evaluation of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia fits into this growing interest. A systematic review is given of the literature on the effects of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia carried out by speech therapists. Thus, the review excludes reports of surgical or pharmacological treatments. The literature search was performed using the electronic databases PubMed and Embase. All available inclusion dates up to November 2008 were used. The search was limited to English, German, French, Spanish, and Dutch publications. MESH terms were supplemented by using free-text words (for the period after January 2005). Fifty-nine studies were included. In general, statistically significant positive therapy effects were found. However, the number of papers was rather small. Moreover, diverse methodological problems were found in many of these studies. For most studies, the conclusions could not be generalized; comparison was hindered by the range of diagnoses, types of therapies, and evaluation techniques. Many questions remain about the effects of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia as performed by speech and language therapists. Although some positive significant outcome studies have been published, further research based on randomized controlled trials is needed.

Lip muscle training in stroke patients with dysphagia

CONCLUSION

Training with an oral screen can improve lip force (LF) and swallowing capacity (SC) in stroke patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, irrespective of the duration of pretreatment of dysphagia, and irrespective of the presence or absence of central facial paresis. It is more plausible that treatment results are attributable to sensory motor stimulation and the plasticity of the central nervous system than to the training of the lip muscles per se.

OBJECTIVES

A close relationship has been demonstrated between LF and SC in stroke patients whether or not they are affected by facial paresis. It is not known how training of lip function can improve swallowing capacity. The present study was therefore designed to ascertain: (i) if training with an oral screen can improve the LF and SC of stroke patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia; to establish (ii) if improvement in LF and SC is connected with the presence or absence of central facial palsy, (iii) on the interval between stroke onset and initiation of treatment, (iv) on age, or (v) on sex.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 30 stroke patients, 49-88 years old, who were investigated with a Lip Force Meter, LF100 (LF100) and a swallowing capacity test (SCT) before and after a period of self-training lasting at least 5-8 weeks, using an oral screen. Initial central facial paresis was present in 24 patients.

RESULTS

The median LF was 7 Newtons (N) (range 0-27) before treatment and 18.5 N (range 7-44) after treatment (p < 0.001). The median SC was 0 ml/s (range 0-9.1) before treatment and 12.1 ml/s (range 0-36.7) at follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in swallowing improvement between patients with versus those without facial paresis. The interval between stroke attack and start of treatment, ranging from a few days up to 10 years, had no significant influence on the treatment results, nor did age or sex. The facial paresis was improved or at least ameliorated in all patients after the lip training period.

Reflexo da deglutição: análise sobre eficiência de diferentes estímulos em jovens sadios

TEMA: a ausência ou atraso do reflexo da deglutição é considerado um sinal significativo de disfagia. Assim, a terapia tradicionalmente empregada nesses casos consiste em aumentar o input intra-oral por meio de toques gelados (espelho laríngeo 0 ou 00) no terço inferior do arco palatoglosso, porção inferior. OBJETIVOS: identificar, em indivíduos jovens e sadios, quais regiões da orofaringe são mais sensíveis para desencadear o reflexo da deglutição e qual estímulo é mais eficiente. MÉTODO: O reflexo da deglutição foi investigado a partir dos estímulos: espátula, espelho laríngeo 00 gelado, espátula envolta em gaze com água gelada e espátula envolta em gaze umedecida congelada, tocando-se o arco palatoglosso em suas porções inferior e superior, as tonsilas palatinas, a base de língua e a úvula em 65 indivíduos jovens e sadios. RESULTADOS: o reflexo da deglutição não foi desencadeado na maioria dos participantes quando tocado com diferentes estímulos e locais da orofaringe, sendo esta estatisticamente significante. Quando presente, os estímulos mais eficientes foram o espelho laríngeo 00 (28,6%) e a espátula envolta com gaze congelada (27,3%). Quanto à região da orofaringe, a úvula (29,6%), as tonsilas palatinas (26,7%), os arcos palatoglossos região superior (25%) e inferior (21,2%) e base de língua (25%) foram sensíveis aos estímulos. CONCLUSÃO: quando presente o reflexo da deglutição, a úvula, os arcos palatoglossos e as tonsilas palatinas foram as regiões mais sensíveis para desencadeá-lo e o estímulo mais eficiente, dentre os selecionados, foram o espelho laríngeo gelado e a espátula envolta em gaze umedecida congelada.

Reliable lip force measurement in healthy controls and in patients with stroke: a methodologic study

A prefabricated oral screen has shown promising results as a muscle self-training device to improve the lip function of stroke patients affected by oropharyngeal dysphagia. However, a technique for the measurement of lip muscle force, whether in healthy individuals or in stroke patients, is lacking. The present study was designed to (1) test the intra- and interreliability of lip force measurements by means of a newly devised Lip Force Meter, LF100, (2) determine a normal lower limit for lip force in newtons (N), and (3) ascertain the instrument's sensitivity and specificity. LF100 is a modified strain gauge for recording the ability of lips to withstand pressure from a predentally placed oral screen. Forty-two healthy controls and 22 stroke patients agreed to participate in the trial. The controls and patients were examined three times with the LF100, with 2-min rest intervals, twice by investigator MH and once by investigator MO. Intrainvestigator reliability with the LF100 proved excellent in both controls and patients: ICC was 0.83 and 0.90, respectively. Interinvestigator reliability was good or excellent in both groups: ICC was 0.71 and 0.91. There was a significant difference in lip force between controls and stroke patients (mean = 24.7 +/- 6.3 N and 9.5 +/- 5.5 N, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of LF100 was 91% and the specificity 95%. The cutoff level for normal lip force was 15 N. The LF100 showed itself to be a suitable and reliable instrument for measuring lip force.

Dysphagia: implications for older people

This review opens with an outline definition of dysphagia, its causes, and why it is vital that people involved in the health care of older people should be aware of it. A brief consideration of prevalence is followed by an overview of assessment options. We conclude with a section on management.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia and nutritional management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The management of oropharyngeal dysphagia has received growing attention recently. Specialists from many disciplines are involved and the results of developments in dysphagia management are published in a range of journals. This review reports on recent developments in the diagnosis and clinical management of dysphagia.

RECENT FINDINGS

New instruments have been developed recently for diagnosis. Clinical observations have been made that promise to provide a better understanding of the various deficits involved. Deficiencies in both recognizing and managing dysphagia have been highlighted and recent reviews published.

SUMMARY

New techniques for quantifying the type and degree of dysphagia in patients are described. Prospective studies have emphasized that dysphagia frequently remains imperfectly diagnosed; some of these newer less expensive techniques may improve diagnosis. The benefits of using multidisciplinary teams for the effective management of dysphagia have been emphasized by a number of investigators. Quality of life issues in dysphagia are becoming more widely recognized and recommendations designed to improve patients' quality of life have been made, including improvements in nutrition and the use of psychological counselling. Cochrane Reviewers have identified shortcomings in the dysphagia knowledge base and have stressed the need for more properly controlled and randomized clinical trials.