Quantitative analysis of movements in facial nerve palsy with surface electromyography and kinematic analysis.

Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) has a significant effect on a person's quality of life. In individuals with FNP undergoing facial rehabilitation, methods to analyze the loss of function are useful in diagnosis, treatment and follow up. To propose a protocol with kinematic analysis coupled with sEMG to evaluate the outcomes of FNP, quantifying the excursion degrees of the facial muscles and symmetry of voluntary movements. 10 patients (Group A) were followed by diagnosis until the end of the rehabilitation program. Kinematic analysis of 20 healthy adults (group B) was performed as a starting point to have a normality range and to test intra-subject and inter- intra rater reliability. An optoelectronic system and sEMG wireless electrodes were used. In Group A, a significant improvement in the movement of frontalis muscle (P = 0.0118) after 4-week treatment from the beginning (T0) 9.8 ± 4.5 mm to the end of rehabilitation (T1) 16.3 ± 5.8 mm and orbicularis oris (P = 0.0143) from T0 14.8 ± 5.5 mm to T1 20.3 ± 3.3 mm and, a reduction of % of maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) at T1 for frontalis and orbicularis compared to T0. This protocol provides meaningful data in a simple, reliable and objective way for the functional assessment of patients with PNF.

Rehabilitation of patients post-COVID-19 infection: a literature review.

Rehabilitation is important for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Given the lack of guidelines in English on the rehabilitation of these patients, we conducted a review of the most recent reports. We performed this literature review using the principal research databases and included randomized trials, recommendations, quasi-randomized or prospective controlled clinical trials, reports, guidelines, field updates, and letters to the editor. We identified 107 studies in the database search, among which 85 were excluded after screening the full text or abstract. In total, 22 studies were finally included. The complexity of the clinical setting and the speed of spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which leads to rapid occupation of beds in the intensive care unit, make it necessary to discharge patients with COVID-19 who have mild symptoms as soon as possible. For these reasons, it is necessary to formulate rehabilitation programs for these patients, to help them restore physical and respiratory function and to reduce anxiety and depression, particularly patients with comorbidities and those who live alone or in rural settings, to restore a good quality of life.