Effect of vocal exercises on the rehabilitation of neurogenic dysphagia: a systematic review
Objective: To analyze the effect of vocal exercises on the rehabilitation of neurogenic dysphagia. Methods: This study is a systematic review (SR), with its protocol registered in PROSPERO (n. CRD42023483155). The methodology followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, and reporting was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). An electronic search was conducted in Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, along with a search of the gray literature using Google Scholar, ProQuest, and MedRxiv. Manual searching included citation mapping and consultations with experts. Specific search strategies were developed for each evidence source. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving adult patients with neurological diseases who used vocal exercises as a treatment strategy for dysphagia, with outcomes related to swallowing efficiency and safety parameters, as well as temporal measures from instrumental swallowing assessment. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and evidence certainty analysis. Study selection was performed using Rayyan, risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal tool, and evidence certainty was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Although a meta-analysis was initially planned, the limited number of studies per outcome precluded evidence synthesis, so a descriptive analysis of results was conducted. Results: Out of 891 references retrieved, four studies were selected. Half of the studies presented a high risk of bias, and the other half showed a moderate risk. All studies used LSVT® for neurogenic dysphagia rehabilitation. Sample sizes ranged from seven to 20 patients, with diagnoses including Parkinson’s disease (PD) (50%), PD with multiple system atrophy (25%), and progressive supranuclear palsy (25%). No studies included a control group. All studies assessed Swallowing with videofluoroscopy, though protocols varied by volume, consistency, and number of trials. Three studies evaluated temporal measures but with heterogeneous physiological events. All studies reported improvement in at least one swallowing measure following the intervention. Conclusion: Despite indications of swallowing improvement after the intervention, the results of this SR provide weak evidence to support the exclusive use of vocal exercises in the rehabilitation of neurogenic dysphagia.