Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

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. Purpose: to investigate the role of non affected side relaxation on function outcome in patient with Bell's palsy. Methodology: Thirty patients from both genders participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Control group received conventional physical therapy (Laser Therapy, Faradic stimulation, Therapeutic facial massage and Facial exercise) on the affected side only for two months with session duration of 50 minutes. The Study group received a designed relaxation program (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Therapeutic facial massage, Intraoral massage and Ice massage) on the non affected side and conventional physical therapy program on the affected side for two months with session duration of one hour and 20 minutes. Patients were assessed with electroneuronography (ENog) and facial grading system (FGS) before treatment, one month after treatment and two months after treatment.Results: The study revealed that function outcome has improved significantly in each group with no significant difference between both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that relaxation of non-affected side is not an effective treatment approach in patient with Bell's palsy

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