The Effects of Kinesiology Taping Combined With Swallowing Exercises on Oropharyngeal Muscle Thickness and Swallowing Function in Dysphagia Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients: An Ultrasonographic Assessment in a Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

This randomized controlled single-blind study aims to investigate the effect of kinesiology taping combined with resistance exercises on suprahyoid muscle thickness and swallowing function in patients with stroke-related dysphagia. A total of 36 participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving real kinesiology taping and a control group receiving placebo taping, both combined with standardized swallowing exercises for 6 weeks. Outcome measures include ultrasonographic evaluation of oropharyngeal muscles (geniohyoid, mylohyoid, anterior digastric, and tongue muscles), swallowing function assessed by the Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test, EAT-10, T-SWAL-QOL, Dysphagia Handicap Index, FOIS, and Functional Ambulation Level. This study will contribute to determining effective rehabilitation methods for improving safe swallowing in post-stroke patients.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 50
Maximum Age: 80
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Patients aged between 50 and 80 years

• Diagnosed with stroke

• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than 22

• Voluntary participation with written informed consent

Locations
Other Locations
Turkey
Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training Research Hospital
RECRUITING
Istanbul
Contact Information
Primary
Elif Büşra Demirel, medical doctor
edemirel2014@gmail.com
+90 554 613 65 32
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-03-04
Estimated Completion Date: 2025-10-10
Participants
Target number of participants: 36
Treatments
Experimental: Kinesiology Taping Group
Participants in this group will receive real kinesiology taping applied to the suprahyoid region along with standardized effortful swallowing and oromotor exercises. The taping will be applied in three directions (hyoid to clavicle, hyoid to sternum, and horizontal to hyoid) and renewed every three days over a 6-week period. Exercises will be performed daily, 5 sets of 10 swallows (50 total repetitions).
Placebo_comparator: Placebo Taping Group
Participants in this group will receive placebo kinesiology taping that mimics the appearance of therapeutic taping, without applying actual tension. The same standardized swallowing and oromotor exercises will be provided daily for 6 weeks, identical to the experimental group.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov