Comparison of Motor Imagery Technique and Mime Therapy on Facial Expressions in Facial Palsy Patients

Overview

This project was a Randomized clinical trial conducted to compare the effects of motor imagery technique and mime therapy on facial expressions in facial palsy patients so that we can have best treatment option for patients of facial palsy. Duration was of 6 months, convenient sampling was done, subjects following eligibility criteria from Imran Idrees Teaching hospital and Idrees Hospital Sialkot, were randomly allocated in two groups via computer generated method, baseline assessment was done, MIT Group received motor imagery technique, 45 min session (3 times a week for 3 months) plus the EMS (10-15 min), while the MT Group received mime therapy 30-45 min session (3 times a week for 3 months) plus the EMS (10-15 min). Outcome measures were collected for both groups at before treatment (T0) and at the end of the treatment i-e after 3 months (T1). The outcome measures were severity of paresis, facial symmetry and intensity of depression measured by using House-Brackmann Scale, Sunnybrook Facial Grading System and Beck Depression Inventory Scale, respectively. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 24.0.

Facial palsy is due to the damage in the facial nerve that supplies the muscles of the face. Peripheral facial nerve paralysis can have various causes, such as Bell's palsy, which is the most common cause. Among secondary cause, tumors and the adverse effects of surgery for tumor pathologies such as, acoustic neuroma and facial nerve schwannoma are the most prevalent. The prognosis for FNP is complete recovery in roughly 80% of cases with Bell's palsy, whereas 15% experiences some type of permanent nerve damage, with the remaining 5% enduring severe sequelae. To this end, FNP should be treated in a multidisciplinary setting, in which physical therapy, psychological and medical or surgical interventions are integrated. The current study has compared the effects of motor imagery technique and mime therapy on facial expressions in facial palsy patients. The current study was novel in a way that there is no evidence of superiority of any rehabilitative treatment compared with another in the recovery of FNP, which was clearly determined by the current study.