Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Combination With Facial Exercise in Patient With Bell’s Palsy: A Comparitive Study

Abstract Background; Bell’s palsy is a type of facial paralysis that results in inability to control the facial muscles on the affected side. It is also known as idiopathic facial paralysis. Bell’s palsy is one of the most common neurological disorders of cranial nerves. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is an approach in which we use small current to activate nerve that affected muscle. It shows significant effect in muscle strengthening, in neuromuscular rehabilitation and improve functional movement of muscles. Method; It was a pre and post experimental study that consisting 30 participants (male and female)15 in each group. Group A received NMES, facial exercises and Group B received PNF, facial exercise for 15 days with one session per day. Results; The results suggest that both treatment approach had significant improvement but Group A had significant higher score at House Brackmann Scale than Group B. The p value (0.038) of t test performed at day 15 gives the evidence that the group A subjects shows better and faster recovery than the group B subjects. Conclusion; In this study, both group A and group B showed significant results and displayed efficient improvement after 15 days of treatment. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation technique with facial muscle exercises is more effective in improving facial function and reducing facial disability.