Physical Therapy with Drug Treatment in Bell Palsy: A Focused Review

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Ferreira, M (Author) Other; Marques, EE (Author) Other; Duarte, J. A. (Author) FADEUP; Santos, PC (Author) Other

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION

Vol. 94

Pages: 331-340

ISSN: 0894-9115

Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-9T4

DOI: 10.1097/phm.0000000000000255

Abstract (EN): The physical therapy (PT) associated with standard drug treatment (SDT) in Bell palsy has never been investigated. Randomized controlled trials or quasirandomized controlled trials have compared facial PT (except treatments such as acupuncture and osteopathic) combined with SDT against a control group with SDT alone. Participants included those older than 15 yrs with a clinical diagnosis of Bell palsy, and the primary outcome measure was motor function recovery by the House-Brackmann scale. The methodologic quality of each study was also independently assessed by two reviewers using the PEDro scale. Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Three trials indicate that PT in association with SDT supports higher motor function recovery than SDT alone between 15 days and 1 yr of follow-up. On the other hand, one trial showed that electrical stimulation added to conventional PT with SDT did not influence treatment outcomes. The present review suggests that the current practice of Bell palsy treatment by PT associated with SDT seems to have a positive effect on grade and time recovery compared with SDT alone. However, there is very little quality evidence from randomized controlled trials, and such evidence is insufficient to decide whether combined treatment is beneficial in the management of Bell palsy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10