Efficacy of adding selective electrical muscle stimulation to usual physical therapy for Bell's palsy: immediate and six-month outcomes.

Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis, affecting one in every 60 people in their lifetime. Transcutaneously applied selective electrical muscle stimulation could potentially accelerate recovery from Bell's palsy but this intervention remains controversial. Studies have shown benefit, but concerns for lack of efficacy and potential for worsening synkinesis remain. We performed a prospective controlled trial comparing outcomes at initial recovery and six months later with selective electrical muscle stimulation and usual physical therapy versus usual physical therapy alone in adults with acute Bell's palsy. Outcomes were facial function assessed with the House Brackman and eFACE scales. Outcomes were evaluated at discharge and six months after discharge. Discharge occurred when participants were judged to be fully recovered by their treating therapist and supervisor. 38 adults participated in the study. Participants in the electrical stimulation group achieved maximal recovery twice as fast as the control group (2.5 weeks versus 5.2 weeks) with no significant differences in facial function or synkinesis between groups at any time point. This study is the first human trial of electrical stimulation in Bell's palsy to follow patients 6 months from recovery and supports that selective electrical muscle stimulation accelerates recovery and does not increase synkinesis.

Electroestimulación muscular selectiva utilizada en el tratamiento kinésico de pacientes con parálisis facial periférica aguda y crónica / Selective muscular electrostimulation used in the kinetic treatment of patients with acute and chronic peripheral facial paralysis

Se presentan dos casos de pacientes con parálisis facial periférica aguda y crónica respectivamente, en los que se utilizó el mismo tratamiento kinésico basado en electroestimulación muscular selectiva combinado con masoterapia y reeducación de músculos faciales. Ambos pacientes recuperaron las funciones básicas de oclusión básica de ojos y boca como así también mímica y simetría facial. En el caso del paciente con parálisis facial aguda, se obtuvieron resultados funcionales en menor número de sesiones. El inicio precoz del tratamiento kinésico podría ser considerado como un factor que favorecería la pronta recuperación del paciente. No se registraron efectos no esperados con el uso de corrientes eléctricas para la recuperación del trofismo de los músculos faciales