Clinical study on tri-tongue acupuncture combined with low-frequency electrical stimulation for treating post-stroke dysarthria

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with tri-tongue acupuncture for the treatment of post-stroke dysarthria. This randomized clinical study assessed the correlation between the clinical efficacy of low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with tri-tongue acupuncture in patients with post-stroke dysarthria. AIM: To investigate the clinical effects of tri-tongue acupuncture combined with low-frequency electrical stimulation for treating post-stroke dysarthria. METHODS: Ninety patients with post-stroke dysarthria, who were admitted to our hospital from December 2019 to June 2021, were selected and equally divided into two groups (n = 45/group) according to the random number table method. Tri-tongue acupuncture was administered in the control group. The treatment group received both tri-tongue acupuncture and low-frequency electrical stimulation. The clinical efficacy, Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) score, general quality of life inventory (GQOLI-74) score, Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment score, and speech function grades were compared and analyzed between both groups. RESULTS: The overall efficacy in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Before treatment, the WAB, Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, or GQOLI-74 scores (P > 0.05) did not differ between the groups. After therapy, the WAB, Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, and GQOLI-74 scores in both groups increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the treatment group exhibited a significantly greater increase than that of the controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, the classification of speech function did not differ between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05), whereas significant improvements were observed in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05). The degree of improvement in the treatment group was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-frequency electrical stimulation, in conjunction with tri-tongue acupuncture, exhibits a good clinical effect on post-stroke dysarthria.