Speaker: Ivy Cheng ivycky@connect.hku.hk, Faculty of Education, HKU

Background

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has recently been explored as a potential treatment for post-stroke swallowing disorders (dysphagia). This study aims at investigating the effects of rTMS on swallowing functions and swallowing-related quality of life for chronic post-stroke dysphagia.

Methods

Fifteen participants (mean age=64.6 years) with chronic post-stroke dysphagia were randomly assigned to an experimental (N=11) or sham (N=4) group. All participants received 3000 pulses of 5Hz rTMS (real rTMS for the experimental group or sham rTMS for the sham group) over the tongue area of the motor cortex for 10 days. The outcomes measures included the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), swallowing-related quality-of-life questionnaire and maximum tongue pressure. All participants were assessed at 1 week pre-, 2, 6 and 12 months post-stimulation.

Results

Medium to large effect sizes were observed for post-rTMS changes in the experimental group. Particularly, they demonstrated reduction in pharyngeal residue and improvement in swallowing-related quality of life. The maximum tongue strength remained relatively unchanged in both groups.

Conclusions

This study suggested that the current rTMS protocol has potential benefits to improve swallowing functions after stroke. Future research directions include examining post-rTMS neurological changes and combination of rTMS with task-oriented exercises.