Comparative Study Between Facial PNF And Kinesio Taping Along With Facial Exercises In The Treatment Of Bell’s Palsy

Comparative Study Between Facial PNF And Kinesio Taping

Abstract

Background: Facial expressions of human convey strongest emotions of spirit.1The facial nerve is responsible for voluntary facial movements. Bell’s palsy is a partial paralysis of the facial muscles. There any many traditional approaches used for rehabilitation of Bell’s palsy which includes electrical stimulation. Individually the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique and kinesiology taping (k-taping) exercise has been proven effective yet no study has been done on comparison between two neuro-faciliatatory approaches. Hence the effort to compare between facial PNF and k-taping with exercise for improving facial expressions, also to identifying which treatment protocol is superior. Methods:30 patients diagnosed with unilateral Bell’s palsy by medicine department from both genders in the age group of 20 to 40 years were selected. Patients were assessed by using sunny brook facial grading system. They were divided randomly into two groups group A and B. Group A received facial PNF and group B received kinesio taping with facial exercises for 4 weeks. Results: The two techniques were compared using unpaired t test using sunny brook scale as outcome measure, the difference was significant with p<0.05,Group B being more effective than group A .Conclusion: This study concludes that K- taping with facial exercises is more effective than facial PNF in improving the voluntary facial muscle contractions. [Paletkar T Natl J Integr Res Med, 2019; 10(2):25-28]