Effects of Mirror Therapy on Bell’s Palsy

Background: Bell’s palsy is a common nerve disorder. The annual incidence of Bell’s palsy in the world is around 11-40 cases per 100,000 people. Both genders' prevalence rate seemed to be the same in their thirties. Conservative methods were used to treat Bell’s palsy. Therefore, further research is required which provides more results in less time with less disability. Objective: To evaluate the effects of mirror therapy in improving facial movements, symmetry, and the prevention of synkinesis. Methodology: This study was a randomized clinical trial, conducted in Madina teaching hospital, Aziz Fatima hospital, and DHQ hospital Faisalabad, Pakistan from Feb 2019 to July 2019. A convenient sampling technique was used and 30 patients were randomly allocated into two groups by lottery method. Group A (n=15) received Conventional therapy (electrical muscle stimulation and facial exercise) while group B(n=15) received mirror therapy in which after application of EMS, exercises were performed in front of a mirror. Twelve treatment sessions were given in four weeks on alternative days. The duration of the study was 6 months. Pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements were taken. The Questionnaires, House-Brackmann scale, and Sunnybrook facial grading system were used as data collection tools. Results: The patients’ mean age was 35.27 ± 7.611 years with 14 (46.7%) males and 16 (53.3%) females. Mirror therapy shows improvement on Sunnybrook facial grading system score as a mean value 70.67 ± 11.127. The result shows both groups are significant as with a p-value