Effectiveness and optimal dosage of physiotherapy interventions for Bell palsy: a case study

Abstract

Abstract Background Bell palsy is a sudden facial nerve paralysis that affects many individuals annually. It significantly impacts patients and their families, leading to a reduced quality of life if left untreated. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework focuses on outcome measures, functional limitations, and overall quality of life of the patients. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management of the condition. In order to standardize clinical practice and contribute to recommendations of certain interventions, this paper focuses on the optimal dosage of physiotherapy intervention for Bell palsy patients, which includes exercise therapy and electrotherapy. Case presentation An Indian 33-year-old male visited our physiotherapy department 15 days after being diagnosed with right-sided Bell palsy with unknown aetiology. His chief complaints were right-eye dryness, facial pain, drooping of the face, and difficulty performing facial activities. The outcome measures are the strength duration curve (SD curve), House-Brackmann grading, manual muscle testing, and visual analogue scale (VAS) scale. The physiotherapy intervention includes two primary components: electrotherapy and exercise therapy. Conclusion The Kabat rehabilitation technique, along with nerve stimulation and an active exercise regimen, is significantly effective in treating Bell palsy, and the outcome measures show significant improvement with optimal therapy dosage.

Keywords

• Rehabilitation
• PNF
• Kabat therapy
• Nerve stimulation
• Bell palsy
• Physiotherapy