Abstract

The present study compared proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and neuromuscular re-education (NRE) combined with conventional therapy versus conventional therapy alone with home-based exercises and facial nerve stimulation plays a significant role in alleviating facial disability among individuals affected by Bell’s palsy. Thirty-two patients aged 20–70 years were purposively selected and equally allocated into two groups, viz. Group-A where patients were treated with PNF and NRE plus interrupted galvanic stimulation (IGS), facial massage (FM), and home-based exercises (HBE), while in Group-B, patients were treated with IGS, FM, and HBE only. Outcome measures included the Facial Disability Index–Physical Function (FDI-PF), Facial Disability Index–Social Function (FDI-SF), Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), and Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale (SFGS). At baseline, no significant inter-group differences were observed. Significant inter-group differences (p< 0.001) were reported in FDI-PF, FDI-SF, and SFGS afterintervention, favouring Group-A. Within Group-A, FDI-PF and SFGS significantly improved, while FDI-SF and SAQ significantly decreased. Group-B also showed significant improvements, but to a lesser extent. The findings indicate that adding PNF and NRE to conventional therapy is more effective to enhance facial symmetry and minimize functional impairment in patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.