Efficacy of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Kinesiology Taping in Patients with Bell's Palsy

The purpose of the present study was to determine the efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and kinesiology taping along with conventional physiotherapy and electrical muscle stimulation in patients with Bell's palsy. In present study, conveniently selected 21 patients both male and female with Bell's palsy of age group 20 to 50 years were considered. Further the patients were allocated equally into three groups, Group A, B and C having seven patients in each group. Patients in group A received proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, conventional physiotherapy and electrical muscle stimulation. Group B received kinesiology taping, conventional physiotherapy and electrical muscle stimulation. Group C received conventional physiotherapy and electrical muscle stimulation. The outcome measures included Facial Disability Index-Physical Function and Social Function (FDI-PF, SF) and Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale (SFGS) for facial motor function and facial symmetry. Results of the study showed that in pre-intervention condition, no significant differences were noted in the scores of FDI-PF, SF and SFGS between the groups. However, significant differences (pless than0.05) were noted in post- intervention scores of FDI-PF, SF and SFGS of group B when compared to other two groups i.e., group A and group C. From the findings of the study it could be concluded that the treatment protocol comprised of Kinesiology Taping, Conventional Physiotherapy and Electrical Muscle Stimulation was more effective than Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Conventional Physiotherapy and Electrical Muscle Stimulation in improving the facial symmetry and facial motor function in patients with Bell's palsy.