Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: March | Volume: 6 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 116-120
Effectiveness of Facial Nerve Stimulation with Kabat Technique in Bell’s Palsy Patients
Sumathi G1, Surekha K2, Ramamoorthy V3, Divya Bharathi. V4
1Senior Physiotherapist, 2Physiotherapist, 3HOD, 4Intern,
Department of PMR, PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore, India.
ABSTRACT
Background: Bell’s palsy, also known as idiopathic facial paralysis. It is one of the most common neurological disorders of the cranial nerves. Bell’s palsy is usually a type of temporary sudden paralysis that causes weakness of the muscles of face on one side. Rarely, it can affect both sides of the face. The etiology is unknown and therefore the scientists believe that a viral infection such as common cold sore virus, herpes simplex, etc could be the cause. It is also been associated with herpes, mumps, influenza, chronic middle ear infection, lymes disease, tuberculosis, trauma such as skull fracture , facial injury, frozen or damaged facial nerve. Electrical stimulation uses a small amount of electricity to activate the muscle of face. This causes the facial muscles to twitch as if electrical impulses from your brain activated them. Kabat rehabilitation is a type of motor control rehabilitation technique based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.
Methods: It was a randomized clinical trial consisting 30 participants (males and females) 15 in each group, with Bell’s palsy of non-traumatic origin. Group A received Electrical stimulation, facial exercises and Group B received Electrical stimulation, Kabat technique, facial exercises for 15 days, and one session per day.
Results: The results suggest that Group B had significant higher score at House Brackmann Scale than Group A.
Conclusions: Both group A and group B showed significant results and displayed efficient improvement in facial symmetry after 15 days of treatment. KABAT technique with electrical stimulation and facial muscle exercises is more effective in improving facial function and reducing facial disability.
Key words: Bell’s palsy • Physical rehabilitation • Kabat • House-Brackmann grading system.
[PDF Full Text]