Affiliations: [a]
Department of Occupational Therapy, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Republic of Korea
| [b]
Department of Occupational Therapy, Korea Children’s Developmental Center, Republic of Korea
| [c]
Department of Occupational Therapy, Bethesda Hospital, Republic of Korea
| [d]
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Busan Paik Hospital of Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| [e]
Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Republic of Korea
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Ji-Su Park, OT, Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, 621-749, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 55 320 3685; Fax: +82 55 326 4885; E-mail: jisu627@hanmail.net.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Dysphagia after stroke can cause a variety of complications, especially aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, rehabilitation methods to reduce aspiration in patients with dysphagia are important. OBJECTIVE:In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Shaker exercise on aspiration and oral diet level in stroke survivors with dysphagia. METHODS:Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 16). Participants in the experimental group performed Shaker exercise and conventional dysphagia therapy, whereas those in the control group performed only conventional dysphagia therapy. All participants performed training 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Degree of aspiration was assessed using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) based on videofluoroscopic swallowing study, while oral diet level was assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). RESULTS:The experimental group showed greater improvement on both the PAS (p < 0.05) and FOIS (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study suggest that Shaker exercise is a effective exercise for recovery of swallowing function in stroke survivors with dysphagia.
