Discussion
dysphagia, dysphagia complications, post-stroke dysphagia, stroke, depressive, depressive symptoms, depression
DYSPHAGIA, STROKE
The present study revealed that participation in group exercise sessions held at a community center significantly improved swallowing function, alleviated depressive symptoms, and enhanced overall quality of life among stroke patients with dysphagia. In terms of dysphagia, both groups demonstrated improvements in swallowing function. However, in addition to providing specific training for post-stroke dysphagia, group training also step-by-step feeding guidance based on the patient’s current function, as evidenced by the comparison of FOIS scores, which is particularly important. The evidence suggests [It is worth noting that these exercises were conducted in a community-based group training program, it also demonstrated benefits in improving depressive symptoms. The study findings demonstrated a significant decrease in depression within the intervention group, whereas the control group experienced a progression or exacerbation of depressive symptoms. We also acknowledge that depressive symptoms are prevalent among patients with dysphagia, which may increase the risk of dysphagia complications or accelerate symptom progression, and these findings are more relevant to the results of this study. Additionally, dysphagia may contribute to the development of depression over time. This finding highlights the importance of promoting physical activity among individuals with dysphagia, as they are more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared without dysphagia [Furthermore, satisfaction from life was significantly associated with functional outcomes. Yet, a higher correlation was found with participation [