Effect of Kinesiology Taping and Swallowing Exercises on Suprahyoid Muscle Thickness and Swallowing Function in Stroke Patients With Dysphagia

NCT06988215 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025/26
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Stroke; Dysphagia; Cerebrovascular Disorders

Keywords

Kinesiology Taping; Dysphagia Rehabilitation; Suprahyoid Muscles; Ultrasound Assessment; Neurogenic Dysphagia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Ultrasound Measurement of Oropharyngeal Muscle Thickness Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6 Outcome Description: The thickness of oropharyngeal muscles, including the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, and tongue muscles, will be measured

  The thickness of oropharyngeal muscles, including the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, and tongue muscles, will be measured using ultrasonography at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention.

  Baseline and Week 6

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Swallowing Safety Assessed by Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (VVST)

  Baseline and Week 6

• 9Change in Dysphagia Severity Assessed by EAT-10(The Eating Assessment Tool

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in Swallowing-Related Quality of Life (T-SWAL-QOL)

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI)

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in Functional Independence Measure (FIM)

  Baseline and Week 6

Study Arms (2)

Kinesiology Taping Group

EXPERIMENTAL

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).

Other: Kinesiology Taping with Exercise

Placebo Taping Group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

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.

Other: Placebo Taping with Exercise

Interventions

Kinesiology Taping with Exercise OTHER

Real kinesiology taping is applied to the suprahyoid region in three directions (from the hyoid bone to the clavicle, to the sternum, and horizontally). Taping is renewed every three days. Participants also perform effortful swallowing and oromotor exercises daily (5 sets of 10 repetitions) for 6 weeks.

Kinesiology Taping Group

Placebo Taping with Exercise OTHER

Non-therapeutic kinesiology taping with no tension is applied to the suprahyoid region to mimic the appearance of the therapeutic tape. Participants perform the same daily swallowing and oromotor exercises as the intervention group for 6 weeks

Placebo Taping Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• Open wounds or unresolved skin problems in the neck area
• Known allergy to kinesiology tape or its components
• Medically unstable conditions
• Primary esophageal disorders (e.g., achalasia, upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training Research Hospital

Istanbul, bahçelievler, 34000, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke; Deglutition Disorders; Cerebrovascular Disorders

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Esophageal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Pharyngeal Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Elif Büşra Demirel, MD

  SBÜ Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Elif Büşra Demirel, medical doctor

CONTACT

+90 554 613 65 32; edemirel2014@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: This is a single-blind study in which only the participants are unaware of their group assignment. Participants in both the intervention and control groups receive kinesiology taping; however, only the intervention group receives therapeutic taping while the control group receives placebo taping that appears identical. Care providers and investigators are not masked.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Medical Doctor

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The intervention group will receive kinesiology taping combined with swallowing exercises, while the control group will receive placebo taping with the same exercises. Both groups will undergo the intervention for 6 weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2025
• First Posted: May 23, 2025
• Study Start: March 4, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 10, 2025
• Study Completion: October 10, 2025
• Last Updated: May 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Locations

TU (1)