Effect of Facial Exercises on Functional Ability for Patients with Bell's Palsy

Abstract

Background : Patients with Bell's Palsy are suffering from facial weakness, numbness or pain around the ear, eyelid closure, and sound hypersensitivity. Facial exercise therapy is the most important treatment approach for this patient which could improve facial function for moderate and chronic cases and reduce sequelae in acute cases of bell's Palsy. The role of nurse includes educating and encouraging patients to practice facial exercises Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of facial exercises on functional ability for patients with Bell's Palsy. Study design : A quasi-experimental design with pre/post-test was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted in outpatient clinic of Neurology which affiliated to Ain Shams university hospital. Egypt. Sample: A Purposive sample of 40 patients. Procedure: data were collected using two tools as follow: I-Patients' demographic and medical data record. II-Patients’ functional disability scale (pre/post and follow) implementation of the facial exercises for patients with Bell's Palsy. Results : The results showed a significant positive correlation between total physical wellbeing, social/psychological wellbeing, and Facial muscle assessment pre/post and follow up implementation of facial exercises at p= <0.001. The Conclusion : There was significant improvement, with highly statistical significance among the studied patients’ physical, social/psychological wellbeing pre/post and follow up implementation of facial exercises. Recommendation: Patients' who have Bell's Palsy should be trained regarding facial exercise to improve functional ability.