ABSTRACT

Aim: To check the recovery time in Bell’s palsy subjects after Physical Therapy (PT) management.

Methodology: A prospective cohort study has been conducted at NHMC Lahore with 40 diagnosed patients of Bell’s palsy aged 21-40 years. Data was collected with simple random sampling technique followed by random number table. All patients having same baseline characteristics with moderate severity of symptoms on House-Brackman scale were included in study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty subjects were equally distributed in to two groups, 20 in Case group and 20 were in control group with equal ratio of male to female. After prior written permission, an interview was conducted to assemble data from subjects who were taking PT management (face muscles training, EMS and superficial heating) scheduled first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth week on Facial disability index (FDI) having two categories; physical and social tasks function ranging from (one-five) and (six-ten) respectively, resulting zero for complete loss of function and hundred for normal to see the recovery at its peak for prognostic purpose1.

Results: The mean value of Facial Disability Index scale, for recovery in terms of Physical and social functions for case and control groups were1.25 and 1.05 at end of 1st week, 1.90 and 1.20 at 2nd week, 2.40 and 1.45 at 3rd week, 3.45 and 1.50 at 4th week, 3.55 and 1.75 at 5th week, 3.65 and 1.95bat the end of 6th week respectively.

Conclusion: Physical therapy is a beneficial management protocol for Bell’s palsy. Patients showed remarkable positive change on FDI scale in case group rather than control group.

Key words: Bell’s palsy, FDI, recovery time, PT