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.
Jie Wang, Gaiyan Li, Shanshan Ding and 9 others
PMID 33517744WHAT IT FOUND
For stroke patients with dysarthria, adding Liuzijue qigong to basic articulation training improved speech breathing and overall speech ability more than traditional breathing training.
It did not significantly improve loudness control compared to the standard approach.
Key findings
01The Liuzijue qigong group showed significantly better improvement in the primary outcome of speech breathing level compared to the control group.
02Liuzijue qigong resulted in significantly greater improvements in maximum phonation time, maximal counting ability, and overall dysarthria severity scores compared to traditional breathing training.
03There was no significant difference between the groups in the change of loudness levels.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study duration was short, lasting only three weeks, so long-term effects are unknown. Loudness was assessed subjectively by evaluators rather than using objective decibel measurements, which may reduce the reliability of those specific findings. The study did not measure aerodynamic indicators like subglottal pressure or airflow, limiting the understanding of the physiological mechanisms behind the improvements.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and the Shanghai Disabled Persons’ Federation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume Liuzijue qigong improves all aspects of speech equally. While it significantly helped with breathing support and overall dysarthria severity, it did not show a statistically significant advantage over traditional breathing training for improving loudness control.