Mechanisms of Air-pulse Pharyngeal Sensory Stimulation Regulation Post-stroke Swallowing Neural Network Remodeling Via TRPV4 Channel
August 20, 2026 updated by: Zhiming Tang, First People's Hospital of Foshan
This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial will investigate the effects and potential neural mechanisms of pharyngeal air-pulse sensory stimulation in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. A total of 80 participants with swallowing impairment after stroke will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an active stimulation group or a sham stimulation group. Both groups will receive conventional swallowing rehabilitation, while the active group will additionally receive pharyngeal air-pulse sensory stimulation and the control group will receive sham stimulation for 2 weeks.
Swallowing function and neurophysiological changes will be assessed before and after the intervention. Assessments will include clinical swallowing evaluations, videofluoroscopic swallowing study, surface electromyography, resting-state and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion kurtosis imaging. The study aims to determine whether pharyngeal air-pulse sensory stimulation can improve swallowing function and to explore associated changes in swallowing-related sensory-motor brain networks after stroke.
Study Overview
Status
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
80
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Contact
- Name: Zhiming Tang
- Phone Number: +86-0757-83161805
- Email: 104237506@qq.com
Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of stroke according to the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases.
- Dysphagia confirmed by videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
- Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) score of 1-5.
- Stable vital signs.
- Time since stroke onset of at least 1 month.
- Age 18-76 years.
- No severe impairment of auditory comprehension and able to cooperate with study procedures.
- Written informed consent provided by the participant and/or family member, as applicable.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Other neurological or mental system disorders
- Severe sensory impairment.
- Severe cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, or renal disease.
- History of seizures after stroke.
- Allergy in the relevant treatment area, or other contraindications to the study stimulation procedure.
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Double
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Active Pharyngeal Air-Pulse Sensory Stimulation
|
Active pharyngeal air-pulse sensory stimulation is delivered using a pharyngeal air-pulse sensory stimulation device.
The stimulation site is the anterior wall of the piriform sinus or the aryepiglottic fold.
Air-pulse stimulation is delivered at a frequency of 48 pulses per minute, with 1 minute of stimulation alternating with 1 minute of rest, for a total session duration of 20 minutes and approximately 480 air pulses per session.
|
|
Sham Comparator: Sham Pharyngeal Air-Pulse Sensory Stimulation
|
Sham pharyngeal air-pulse sensory stimulation is delivered using the same device.
The catheter insertion procedure, placement method, and duration are kept consistent with those used in the active stimulation group to maintain blinding.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) is a 7-point ordinal scale used to assess the functional level of oral food and liquid intake.
Scores range from 1 (nothing by mouth) to 7 (total oral diet with no restrictions).
Higher scores indicate better funct
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
The Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) is an 8-point ordinal scale used to assess the severity of airway invasion during swallowing.
Scores range from 1 to 8, with a score of 1 indicating that material does not enter the airway and a score of 8 indicating that material passes below the vocal folds with no attempt to eject it.
Higher scores indicate greater severity of penetration or aspiration.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
|
Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) is a 7-point ordinal scale used to assess the functional severity of dysphagia and the level of dietary restriction and assistance required.
Scores range from 1 to 7, with a score of 1 indicating severe dysphagia with inability to safely tolerate oral intake and a score of 7 indicating normal swallowing with a regular diet and no need for compensatory strategies or additional time.
Higher scores indicate better swallowing function and lower severity of dysphagia.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Other Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Oral Transit Time (OTT)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Oral Transit Time (OTT) will be measured from videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) recordings and expressed in seconds (s).
OTT is defined as the time interval from the initiation of posterior oral bolus propulsion until the leading edge of the bolus reaches the ramus of the mandible.
Measurements will be obtained using predefined bolus consistencies and volumes.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
|
Upper Esophageal Sphincter Opening (UO)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Upper Esophageal Sphincter Opening (UO) will be measured from videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) recordings and expressed in millimeters (mm).
UO is defined as the maximum opening diameter of the upper esophageal sphincter during bolus passage, measured on the lateral VFSS image at the point of maximal opening.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
|
Hyoid Superior Movement (HSM)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Hyoid Superior Movement (HSM) will be measured from videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) recordings and expressed in millimeters (mm).
HSM represents the maximum superior displacement of the hyoid bone from its resting position during swallowing.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
|
Hyoid Anterior Movement (HAM)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Hyoid Anterior Movement (HAM) will be measured from videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) recordings and expressed in millimeters (mm).
HAM represents the maximum anterior displacement of the hyoid bone from its resting position during swallowing.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
|
Laryngeal Closure Duration (LCD)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Laryngeal Closure Duration (LCD) will be measured from videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) recordings and expressed in seconds (s).
LCD is defined as the time interval from complete closure of the laryngeal vestibule to subsequent reopening of the laryngeal vestibule during swallowing.
Measurements will be obtained using predefined bolus consistencies and volumes.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
|
Pharyngeal Transit Time (PTT)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Pharyngeal Transit Time (PTT) will be measured from videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) recordings and expressed in seconds (s).
PTT is defined as the time interval from the leading edge of the bolus passing the ramus of the mandible until the trailing edge of the bolus passes through the upper esophageal sphincter.
A shorter PTT indicates faster pharyngeal bolus transport.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the 2-week intervention
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Publications and helpful links
The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.
General Publications
- Assoratgoon I, Shiraishi N, Tagaino R, Ogawa T, Sasaki K. Sensory neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dysphagia rehabilitation: A literature review. J Oral Rehabil. 2023 Feb;50(2):157-164. doi: 10.1111/joor.13391. Epub 2022 Nov 28.
- Clave P, Ortega O, Rofes L, Alvarez-Berdugo D, Tomsen N. Brain and Pharyngeal Responses Associated with Pharmacological Treatments for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Older Patients. Dysphagia. 2023 Dec;38(6):1449-1466. doi: 10.1007/s00455-023-10578-x. Epub 2023 May 5.
- Theurer JA, Johnston JL, Fisher J, Darling S, Stevens RC, Taves D, Teasell R, Hachinski V, Martin RE. Proof-of-principle pilot study of oropharyngeal air-pulse application in individuals with dysphagia after hemispheric stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Jun;94(6):1088-94. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.11.033. Epub 2012 Dec 5.
- Zhang M, Li C, Zhang F, Han X, Yang Q, Lin T, Zhou H, Tang M, Zhou J, Shi H, Hui Y, Xiong M, Pang L, Wang B, Feng Z, Li Z, Cao C, Lu X, Ding Y, Shen S, Xu Z, Yu F, Chen C, Meng L, Liao G, Zhang J, Sasegbon A, Dou Z. Prevalence of Dysphagia in China: An Epidemiological Survey of 5943 Participants. Dysphagia. 2021 Jun;36(3):339-350. doi: 10.1007/s00455-020-10138-7. Epub 2020 May 26.
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Estimated)
August 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
December 31, 2029
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 31, 2029
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
August 19, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 20, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
August 24, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 24, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 20, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- FSYYY-EC-SOP-008-03.0-A08
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
NO
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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