Influence of Manual Facilitation Technique on Swallowing Disorder and Aspiration Pneumonia Caused by Severe Dysphagia with Stroke

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the manual facilitation technique (MFT) on swallowing and prevention of aspiration pneumonia in patients with severe dysphagia following stroke, who receive tube feeding because of their inability to respond to verbal commands. [Subjects] The subjects were three patients diagnosed with quadriplegia and severe dysphagia as well as a history of aspiration pneumonia. [Methods] MFT to the larynx after oral sensory treatment was performed for 20 minutes, daily, for the two weeks. For MFT to the larynx, the Mendelsohn maneuver after deep sense stimulation of the larynx was performed. To find out the effect of the MFT, saliva swallowing frequency and the development of aspiration pneumonia were recorded. [Results] None of the subjects were able to perform saliva swallowing before the treatment, but all were able to during the treatment. Also, saliva swallowing frequency was increased in the treatment period (Subject 1: 3.79 times on average, Subject 2: 4.93 on average, Subject 3: 5.71 times on average). [Conclusion] Our results show that MFT to the larynx after oral sensory treatment improved the function of saliva swallowing and had a positive effect on preventing aspiration pneumonia relapse in severe dysphagia patients with inability to respond to verbal commands.