Liuzijue qigong versus traditional breathing training for patients with post-stroke dysarthria complicated by abnormal respiratory control: Results of a single-center randomized controlled trial

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether liuzijue qigong could improve the ability of respiratory control and comprehensive speech in patients with stroke dysarthria. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: The research was carried out in the department of rehabilitation. Participants: Altogether, a total of 98 stroke patients with dysarthria participated in the study. Interventions: Patients were randomly divided into two groups (the experimental group: basic articulation + liuzijue qigong, 48 patients or the control group: basic articulation + traditional breathing training, 50 patients). All therapies were conducted once a day, five times a week for three weeks. Main measures: Primary outcome measure: Speech breathing level of the modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment. Secondary outcome measures: the modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, maximum phonation time, maximal counting ability, /s/, /z/, s/z ratio, and the loudness level. All outcome measures were assessed twice (at baseline and after three weeks). Results: At three weeks, There were significant difference between the two groups in the change of speech breathing level (81% vs 66%, P = 0.011), the modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (5.54 (4.68-6.40) vs 3.66 (2.92-4.40), P = 0.001), maximum phonation time (5.55 (4.92-6.18) vs 3.01(2.31-3.71), P < 0.01), maximal counting ability (3.08(2.45-3.71) vs 2.10 (1.53-2.67), P = 0.018), and /s/ (3.08 (2.39-3.78) vs 1.87 (1.23-2.51), P = 0.004), while no significant differences were found in the change of /z/ (3.08 (2.31-3.86) vs 2.10 (1.5-2.64), P = 0.08), s/z ratio (1.26 (0.96-1.55) vs 1.03 (0.97-1.09), P = 0.714), and the change of loudness level (69% vs 60%, P = 0.562). Conclusions: Liuzijue qigong, combined with basic articulation training, could improve the respiratory control ability, as well as the comprehensive speech ability of stroke patients with dysarthria.

Automated summary

The study showed that combining liuzijue qigong with basic articulation training can significantly improve the respiratory control and comprehensive speech ability of stroke patients with dysarthria.