Rehabilitation of post-stroke dysphagia using swallowing exercises: a quasi-experimental pre–post study

Background Post-stroke dysphagia is a common and serious complication that negatively affects patient safety, recovery, and quality of life. Swallowing exercises are considered a key rehabilitative approach; however, evidence from real-world clinical settings remains limited. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a swallowing exercise program in improving dysphagia among post-stroke patients. Methods A quasi-experimental pre–post design was conducted among 29 post-stroke patients with dysphagia recruited from outpatient follow-up clinics at King Salman Specialist Hospital and King Khaled Hospital, Hail City, Saudi Arabia. Participants received structured swallowing therapy delivered by a specialized physiotherapist, followed by daily home-based exercises. Swallowing difficulty was assessed before and after the intervention using the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI). Results Post-intervention assessment demonstrated a significant reduction in total DHI scores, indicating improvement in overall swallowing function. Significant improvements were also observed across the functional, physical, and emotional subscales of the DHI. Conclusion The findings suggest that swallowing exercises are an effective, feasible, and non-invasive intervention for improving swallowing function and reducing dysphagia-related handicap among post-stroke patients. Incorporating structured swallowing exercises into routine post-stroke rehabilitation may enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.