Comparison between electrical muscle stimulation and faradic current stimulation among patients with facial nerve palsy: a randomized controlled trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61581/mjsp.v7i03.399Keywords:
Electric Stimulation Therapy, Facial Disability Index, Facial Muscles, Facial Paralysis, Faradic CurrentAbstract
Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and faradic current stimulation (FCS) with facial exercise program on facial nerve function and physical and social/well-being function in patients with unilateral facial nerve palsy.
Methods: Patients with non-traumatic unilateral facial nerve palsy aged 30-45 years were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (three motor points of the facial nerve, n=30) and Group B (facial nerve trunk, n=30). Both groups were stimulated and then practiced facial exercises, and they had four 30-minute sessions weekly for 6 weeks. House-Brackmann Scale (HBS) and Facial Disability Index (FDI) were evaluated at the baseline, mid-treatment and post-treatment. Generalized estimating equations, repeated measures ANOVA and independent samples t-tests were performed.
Results: 51 patients (Group A = 26, Group B = 25) finished the study. This was the case for both groups and there was a significant improvement over time on all outcomes (p<0.01). There were time × group interactions which favoured EMS for FDI physical (p=0.019) and social/well-being function (p=0.004). There were time × group interactions which favoured EMS for FDI physical (p=0.019) and social/well-being function (p=0.004). At post-treatment, Group A scored higher on FDI physical (77.31±13.36 vs 69.40±13.72, p=0.042) and social/well-being function (75.08±13.54 vs 66.88±14.03, p=0.039).
Conclusion: Electrical muscle stimulation, in addition to performing facial exercises, gave the greatest improvement in functional and psychosocial recovery as compared to faradic current stimulation.
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