Role of Non Affected Side Relaxation on Function Outcome in Patient with Bell's Palsy

Abstract

Background: Facial paralysis is an extremely frightening situation and gives extreme stress to patients because obvious disfiguring face may cause significant functional, aesthetic, and psychological disturbances. Aim of Study: To investigate the role of non affected side relaxation on function outcome in patient with Bell's Palsy (BP). Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with unilateral BP were assigned into two equal groups (Group A & Group B): Group (A) received conventional physical therapy program (laser therapy, faradic stimulation, therapeutic facial massage and facial exercise) on the affected side only while Group (B) received a designed relaxation program (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), therapeutic facial massage, intraoral massage and ice massage) on the non affected side plus conventional physical therapy program on the affected side. Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) and Electroneuronography (ENoG) were used to assess the severity of facial nerve degeneration. Assessment using both SFGS and EnoG was done pre-treatment, post one month of treatment and post two month of treatment. Results: The study has revealed that the function outcome has improved significantly in each group with no significant difference between both groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that a designed relaxation program of the non-affected side has no significant effect on the function outcome in patient with Bell's palsy.