Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Mar 29, 2023
Date Accepted: Jun 6, 2023
Measuring the Potential Effects of Mirror Therapy Added to the Gold Standard Facial Neuromuscular Retraining (fNMR) in Long-Term Peripheral Facial Palsy Patients: a Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Facial Neuromuscular Retraining (fNMR) is a non-invasive physical therapy widely used in the treatment of peripheral facial palsies. It consists of different methods of intervention that aim to reduce debilitating sequelae of the disease including synkinesis, muscle contractures, and facial asymmetry. Recently, the use of Mirror therapy in the acute facial palsy and post-surgical rehabilitation contexts has shown promising results, suggesting it may be useful as an adjunct to fNMR in the treatment of patients with post-paralysis sequelae.
Objective:
The main aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of Mirror therapy over Facial Neuromuscular Retraining (fNMR) in patients dealing with peripheral facial palsy (PFP) sequalae. Consequently, the specific objectives of this study are (1) to measure the effects of combined therapy compared to fNMR alone on participants’ facial symmetry and facial synkinesis, (2) to measure the effects of combined therapy vs fNMR alone on the quality of life and psychological aspects of the participants, (3) to measure the effects of combined therapy vs fNMR alone on motivation and treatment adherence.
Methods:
This study is a randomized controlled trial that compares the effect of fNMR combined with Mirror therapy (experimental group, n=45) over fNMR alone (control group, n=45) with 90 PFP patients presenting with sequelae since 3-12 months post-onset. Both groups will receive 6-months rehabilitation training during which facial symmetry and synkinesis, participant’s quality of life, psychological factors, motivation and compliance will be assessed at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) post-intervention.
Results:
The inclusion will start in late 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in 2027. The 12-month follow-up will be completed with the last patient in 2028.
Conclusions:
Results of this trial may provide new guidelines for PFP rehabilitation with patients dealing with long-term sequelae. It also fill the need for robust evidence-based data in the field of behavioral facial rehabilitation.
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