PriMera Scientific Medicine and Public Health (ISSN: 2833-5627)

Case Study

Volume 3 Issue 5

Efficacy of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique with Low-Frequency Electrical Stimulation on Facial Disability in Bell’s Palsy

Katam Malathi Devi, Sashikala Bandaru* and Princy Pratyusha

October 27, 2023

DOI : 10.56831/PSMPH-03-097

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Abstract

Introduction: Bell's palsy is a unilateral weakness or paralysis of the face due to acute peripheral facial nerve dysfunction with no identifiable cause. Peripheral facial palsy is the most frequent cranial neuropathy and can originate from various kinds of damage to the VII cranial nerve. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique on facial disability in rehabilitation of Bell’s palsy. It also analyses the effectiveness of hold -relax technique between the two experimental groups.

Materials and Methods: This comparative study setup is at VAPMS College of Physiotherapy and KGH Visakhapatnam. A study sample of 20 subjects was selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects are randomly allocated into two groups through random sampling method, an experimental group-1(n=10) received electrical stimulation and facial exercises, and experimental group-2(n=10) received PNF (hold-relax) technique and electrical stimulation for three weeks (12sessions) for 30-40minutes. The subjects' assessment is done using outcome measures of Sunny Brook Facial Grading Scale.

Results: The results show that there is no significant difference between the groups means value of Experimental Group 1 is 57.60, the mean value of experimental group 2 is 60.80, the p-value is 0.2915, and the t-value is 1.0866, which is not statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study concludes that improvement was seen in both groups. PNF with electrical stimulation is slightly more effective than conservative therapy with electrical stimulation. As there is no significant difference according to statistical analysis both the treatments are recommended.

Keywords: Bell’s palsy; Electrical stimulation; Sunny Brook facial grading scale

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