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NCT Number: NCT06308250

Comparative Effects of Mime Therapy and Action Observation Therapy in Bell's Palsy

The aim of this study is to determine comparative effects of mime therapy and action observation therapy on facial symmetry and quality of life in Bell's palsy. Bell's palsy is characterized as an abrupt paralysis of the peripheral facial nerve, typically without a known cause. Mime Therapy is a performing technique that helps patients regain the ability to use their face muscles. Action observation therapy is novel rehabilitation approach exploiting this mirror mechanism.

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Key information

Conditions

Bell Palsy Cranial Nerve Diseases DNA Virus Infections Facial Nerve Diseases Herpesviridae Infections Infections Mouth Diseases Nervous System Diseases Stomatognathic Diseases Virus Diseases

Age range

20 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Riphah International University

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54660, Pakistan

About this study

This randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in 7 months. 62 participants with Bell's palsy will be included as per sample size calculation through convenience sampling technique. Participants which meet inclusion criteria will be randomly allocated using online randomization tool into two groups. Group A will receive Mime therapy for 30 minutes with short resting interval and Group B will receive action observation therapy for 30 minutes. Each group will receive treatment session of 5 days per week for 6 weeks.

Facial symmetry will be measured using the 13-item Sunny Brook facial Grading System, Facial disability index will be used to assess the quality of life and The House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System will be used to characterize the degree of facial paralysis. The data will be analyzed using SPSS version 24 for Windows software.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Bell's Palsy with acute onset of 1-3 weeks.
  • Unilateral loss of facial weakness.
  • Patients with intact taste sensation.
  • Bell's Palsy of House Brackmann grade 3 and 4.
  • Idiopathic Bell's Palsy.

Exclusion criteria

  • History of facial palsy recurrence.
  • Stroke associated Bells palsy.
  • History of pregnancy
  • Subjects with any disability, fracture, or tumor.
  • History of facial surgery.
  • Subject having skin allergy on face.

Treatment and study plan

MIME THERAPY

Other

Mime therapy consist of:

Self massage: patients will be taught to massage their face and neck daily for about 10 minutes which includes effleurage and kneading of both sides of face.

Breathing exercises: patient will be taught to recognize tension and feel the difference between tension and relaxation in facial musculature for 5 minutes. Expiration exercises will be used to induce relaxation.

Articulation: vowels such as a,e,i,o,u and consonants such as p and b will be used to teach position of the lips for 5 minutes.

Facial expression exercises: forehead wrinkle, smiling, eye closure, frowning, disgust, surprise, anger, sadness will be performed for 10 minutes

Action observation therapy

Other

Function of each of the muscle is observed for 3 minutes and then executed for 2 minutes.

Frontalis (Raising eyebrows and forehead wrinkling). Corrugator Supercili (Moving the eyebrow down and inward toward the nose and inner eye).

Orbicularis oculi (Closing the eyelids). Buccinator (Blowing air in and out of the mouth). Zygomaticus major (Smiling). Orbicularis oris (Lip pursing or puckering).

Primary outcomes

  1. Sunny Brook Facial Grading System

    Time frame: 6th week

    The system includes three components: resting symmetry, the symmetry of voluntary movements, and synkinesis. A composite facial symmetry score is calculated as [4 × symmetry of voluntary movement - 5 × resting asymmetry + 1 × synkinesis] with 100 representing normal facial symmetry.

  2. Facial Disability Index

    Time frame: 6th week

    it is used to assess the quality of life in patients with bell's palsy. It also helps to measure the difficulties of the face in activities of daily living. It represents the relationship between impairments, disability, and psychosocial status and also focuses on the disability of individuals with disorders of the facial motor system. The individual subscales are scored out of a total of 100 where the highest score is the best result.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparative Effects of Mime Therapy and Action Observation Therapy on Facial Symmetry and Quality of Life in Bell's Palsy

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Mar 13, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 17, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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