RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of present study was to find a better procedure to prevent synkinesis in facial nerve palsy. DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Clinical rehabilitation faculty and general rehabilitation centers. SUBJECTS: Twenty- nine patients with facial nerve palsy were selected via electrodiagnosis tests. INTERVENTION: The experimental group (n = 16) was treated with biofeedback electromyography, whereas the control group (n = 13) received common physiotherapy. All patients received 1-year treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of facial grading scale before and after treatment and severity of synkinesia. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, there was a rise in facial grading system in both groups compared with baseline (p < 0.05, paired t test). There were significant differences in the facial grading system between 2 groups at the end of the study, but the experimental group showed better result than the other one. The number of patients with synkinesis and the severity of their synkinesis in the experimental group were lesser than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback therapy is more efficient than common physiotherapy. By using this approach, controlling and reducing synkinesis is more feasible.
