<div>This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the safety and efficacy of combined treatments of acupuncture and swallowing rehabilitation when compared to swallowing rehabilitation alone for adults with post-stroke dysphagia.</div>
National Natural Science Foundation of China; Heilongjiang Key Research and Development Program (China)
From database inception to September 15, 2024
<div>Randomized controlled trials</div>
20
<div>Combined treatments of acupuncture and swallowing rehabilitation resulted in improved swallowing outcomes for adults with stroke-post dysphagia when compared to swallowing rehabilitation alone. Superior results were reported following combined treatments for: </div>
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<ul>
<li>clinical swallow assessments (mean difference [MD] = -3.64; Low Certainty of Evidence);</li>
<li>videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS; MD = 1.49; Low Certainty of Evidence);</li>
<li>water swallow tests (WSTs; MD = -0.72; Low Certainty of Evidence); and</li>
<li>the swallowing quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL; MD = 16.56; Low Certainty of Evidence).</li>
</ul>
<div>Greater treatment effects for noted for more intensive treatments (i.e., six to seven sessions a week versus five sessions a week) for clinical swallow assessments, VFSS, and WSTs. However, greater gains in the SWAL-QOL were reported for five sessions a week. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events for individuals who received combined treatments versus swallowing rehabilitation alone.</div>
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<div>Limitations to this review included high heterogeneity in outcomes and significant risk of bias for included studies. The authors additionally note that all included studies occurred in China, which may limit the generalizability of findings to other populations (p. 8).</div>
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