Operational Guidelines for Neck and Nape Acupuncture in Post-Stroke Dysphagia Rehabilitation

Dysphagia is a common functional impairment following stroke, which not only affects nutritional intake but also leads to serious complications such as aspiration and pulmonary infections. Acupuncture targeting the neck and nape area has proven to be clinically effective and has been widely applied in treating post-stroke dysphagia (PSD), but there is a lack of standardized operational guidelines. To standardize and enhance the clinical operation and efficacy evaluation of neck and nape acupuncture in PSD, this document is drafted in accordance with GB/T1.1—2020 "<italic>Directives for Standardization Part 1: Structure and Drafting of Standardizing Documents</italic>." By systematically reviewing the meridian pathways in the neck and nape area, as well as the physiological and pathological mechanisms of feeding and swallowing, and based on the principle of "proximal acupoint selection," operational guidelines for acupuncture in the neck and nape area are established. The main contents include terminology and definitions, diagnostic criteria, operational procedures and requirements, treatment courses, management of abnormal situations during intervention, precautions, indications, contraindications, and practitioner qualifications. Specific acupoints such as Fengchi, Gongxue, Juanshe, Tiyan, Lianquan, Wai Jinjin, Wai Yuye, Zhiqiang, Tunyan, and Zhi Fanliu are standardized for acupuncture in the neck and nape area. Standardized acupuncture at these acupoints can stimulate the relevant muscles in the throat, promote swallowing reflexes, coordinate neural network functional reconstruction, restore swallowing ability, and improve clinical efficacy and safety. The release and implementation of this guideline will provide a scientifically standardized acupuncture treatment plan for clinical PSD rehabilitation and establish a foundation for subsequent acupuncture clinical research. It demonstrates strong clinical applicability, safety, and effectiveness.