The Effect of Neural Mobilization Versus Facial Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Patients with Bell's Palsy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Bell?s palsy is an acute idiopathic LMN lesion of facial nerve that causes the unilateral paralysis of facial muscles. Individually the PNF is effective and neural mobilization is new advance therapeutic concept and no study has been done on comparison between the neural mobilization and facial PNF. So, there is need to study the comparative effectiveness of treatment between neural mobilization and facial PNF. Aim: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of neural mobilization and facial PNF technique in patients with Bell?s palsy. Methods: 26 patients were included in study according to selection criteria and divided into two groups by random sampling method, 13 patients in each groups. Reaction of degeneration Test and Modified house brackmann scale were taken before and after the intervention. In Group-A neural mobilization for 3-4 sets/session and in Group-B PNF for 2 sets/session for 15 minutes for 5 days/week for 3 weeks with continuations of conventional Physiotherapy were given. Result: The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and Mann-Whitney U Test were used to analyze for statistics among groups. In Intra group analysis there was significant improvement seen in RD Test and MHBS in both groups. In Inter group analysis there was statistical significant difference seen in MHBS in both groups. In RD Test there was statistically no significant difference seen between groups. Conclusion: Facial PNF is more effective than neural mobilization along with conventional Physiotherapy in Bell?s palsy patients.