Effect of Acupuncture Therapy on Dysphagic Parkinson's Patients

Summary

We are currently conducting a randomized controlled study in China, specifically in three hospitals' rehabilitation medicine departments, focusing on dysphagic participants with Parkinson's disease. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy as an additional intervention for these participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group, with 56 individuals in each group. Both groups are receiving standard treatment and swallowing rehabilitation training, while the experimental group is also receiving acupuncture therapy. Our study aims to provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of acupuncture in improving swallowing difficulties in Parkinson's disease participants.

Conditions

• Dysphagia

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Routine rehabilitation training

Balance function training: Patients were instructed to achieve weight shift between the left and right sides of the balance bar in a standing position. Walking function training: based on hip, knee, and ankle control training, patients were instructed to take steps training. Core muscle strength training: Patients were instructed to maintain 3 minutes of training in Bridge-style movement. Functional training of daily living: including training on dressing and undressing, independent eating, painting, and writing. Routine rehabilitation training was performed 30-45 minutes/time, 1-2 times/day, 5-7 days/week.

BEHAVIORAL

Swallowing rehabilitation training

Swallowing-related organ training involves various exercises targeting the lip, mandibular muscle, cheek, tongue muscle, soft palate, as well as exercises for vocal cord closure, laryngeal lifting, and pharyngeal muscle training. These exercises are performed for 5-15 minutes each session, 1-2 times per day, and 5-7 days per week. Sensory stimulation training is conducted using a self-made popsicle, where medical staff gently stimulate the patient's cheek, palatoquadrate, soft palate, posterior pharyngeal wall, tongue surface, and sublingual area repeatedly. Each session lasts 5-25 minutes, performed 1-3 times per day, and 3-7 days per week. Once the patient's swallowing function improves to a certain extent, allowing for safe oral intake, direct training or oral feeding training can be gradually introduced.

PROCEDURE

Acupuncture therapy

The whole acupuncture therapy was performed once daily for 5 days per week, including acupuncture needle and tongue needle. Acupuncture needle: Main acupoints: Lianquan, Shanglianquan (depression between the hyoid bone and the lower border of the mandible), Yifeng; Auxiliary acupoints: Fengchi, Wangu, Fengfu, Yamen, Neidaying (depression of 1 inch below the anterior margin of the mandible). Tongue needle (pricking): Acupoints: Jinjin, Yuye, posterior pharyngeal wall (both sides of the uvula).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Zeng Changhao

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nieto Luis, Master · Site Coordinator of United Medical Group

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-02-15

Primary Completion

2024-06-30

Completion

2024-06-30

Countries

• China