Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2026 Aug 25;51(8):1073-1080. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.20250739.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion at Lianquan (CV23) combined with the Mendelsohn maneuver in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.
METHODS: A total of 105 patients with post-stroke dysphagia from January 2024 to February 2025 were selected and divided into three groups by random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. Control group 1 received the Mendelsohn maneuver, control group 2 received heat-sensitive moxibustion at CV23, and the observation group received the Mendelsohn maneuver combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion at CV23. All groups were treated continuously for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy, lateral pharyngeal wall movement, mobility of the hyolaryngeal complex, surface electromyography (sEMG) signals, swallowing function including water swallowing test (WST), standardized swallowing assessment (SSA), and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), swallowing quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL), nutritional status including serum levels of prealbumin (PA), albumin (ALB), transferrin (TRF), as well as complications and adverse reactions were compared among the three groups.
RESULTS: The total effective rate of the observation group was 94.29%, which was higher than 71.43% in control group 1 and 68.57% in control group 2 (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the lateral pharyngeal wall movement, superior and anterior displacement of the hyoid bone, superior and anterior displacement of the thyroid cartilage, maximum amplitude of sEMG, VFSS score, SWAL-QOL score, and serum levels of ALB, TRF, and PA in the observation group, control group 1, and control group 2 were all increased compared with before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were higher than those in control group 1 and control group 2 (P<0.05). The swallowing duration of sEMG, WST grade, and SSA score were decreased compared with before treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than those in control group 1 and control group 2 (P<0.05). During intervention, only 1 patient in control group 2 had small blisters at the moxibustion site, and no significant abnormalities were found in general vital signs and routine examinations among the three groups before and after intervention. At 3-month follow-up, the complication rate in the observation group (5.71%) was lower than that in control group 1 (25.71%) and control group 2 (31.43%, P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The Mendelsohn maneuver combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion at CV23 can effectively activate the pharyngeal constrictor muscles, improve sEMG signals, promote the recovery of swallowing function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, and exert positive effects in reducing related complications, improving nutritional status and quality of life.
PMID:42621717 | DOI:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20250739
