Background: Kinesiology taping (KT)’s therapeutic effect on dysphagia is insufficient, and method of KT application is not yet clear. Objectives: To review the considerations for the clinical application of KT for dysphagia rehabilitation. Design: A systematic review. Methods: The present study involved a systematic search of electronic databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science) to identify relevant studies published on the use of KT for dysphagia rehabilitation between 2010 and 2020. Results: Four articles (on child dysphagia, adult dysphagia, and healthy adult) were selected. It was found that when KT was applied with 15% tension to the orbicularis oris, mylohyoid, sternohyoid, and masseter muscles in children with dysphagia, lip closure and sucking function were improved. In addition, when KT with 80% tension was applied below the hyolaryngeal complex in healthy adults, significant activation of the suprahyoid muscle was reported. Application of KT with 50% tension to the digastric posterior bellies and the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, sternocleidomastoid, and upper trapezius muscles in adults with dysphagia showed an immediate improvement in vertical excursion and epiglottis rotation of the hyoid bone. Finally, application of KT with 70% tension to the hyolaryngeal complex in adults with dysphagia showed increased thickness of the suprahyoid and the tongue muscles. Conclusion: The present review indicates that KT has significant potential as a therapeutic exercise method for patients with dysphagia in the future. However, the application of KT in such patients should take into account the shape, design, and degree of tension of the tape and the patient's capability and swallowing function.

Background: The chin tuck exercise is a therapeutic approach for improving swallowing function in patients with dysphagia. However, the clinical evidence of the effect is still lacking. Objectives: To investigate the effect of a multidirectional chin tuck exercise on swallowing function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. Design: A two-group prospective study. Methods: In total, 14 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were enrolled and assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group performed the chin tuck exercise in the vertical and diagonal directions, whereas the control group performed the exercise only in the vertical direction. The intervention was performed 20 minutes a day, 5 times a week, for 4 weeks. Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS) and Penetration–Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores determined via a videofluoroscopic swallowing study were the outcome measures used for evaluating swallowing function. Results: Post-intervention, the experimental group exhibited significantly better improvement in the pharyngeal phase score of VDS and PAS score than the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the multidirectional chin tuck exercise is more effective than the vertical chin tuck exercise in improving the swallowing function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.

Background: The foot drop stimulator is designed to improve the walking ability of foot drop in patients after stroke, however, studies on clinical effects are still lacking. Objective: To investigate the effect of a foot drop stimulator on the walking and balancing abilities of foot drop patients after a stroke. Design: One-Group (Pretest-Posttest) Design. Methods: All subjects walked in all three conditions: foot drop stimulator (FDS) ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and barefoot. Primary outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance using a 10-m walking test (10MWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG). Secondary outcome measures consisted of a brief user interview, and the patients recorded the advantages and disadvantages of each condition. Results: FDS, AFO, and barefoot conditions showed a statistically significant difference in 10MWT and TUG (P<.001) as a result of comparing three conditions. FDS and AFO were significantly different from the barefoot condition as post-hoc results; however, there was no significant difference between the two conditions (P>.05). Conclusion: In this study, the foot drop stimulator contributed to improving the balance ability, and the walking ability was similar to the effect of the anklefoot orthosis.