An interventional study of Conventional Facial Therapy and Kabat Rehabilitation in Bell's Palsy and Facial Paralysis, sponsored by University of Lahore. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-27.
Sponsored by University of Lahore · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of Kabat rehabilitation versus kinesiology taping, both combined with conventional therapy, on facial asymmetry and functional disability in patients with unilateral Bell's palsy. A total of 38 participants will be recruited from the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups using a lottery method. Outcomes will be assessed using the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System and the Facial Disability Index at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.
This single-blinded randomized clinical trial will be conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore. Participants aged 30-50 years diagnosed with unilateral Bell's palsy will be recruited using purposive sampling. After obtaining informed consent, 38 eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two parallel groups using the lottery method.
Group A will receive conventional therapy (facial massage and electrical muscle stimulation) combined with Kabat rehabilitation using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques.
Group B will receive conventional therapy combined with kinesiology taping applied according to a standardized protocol targeting affected facial muscles.
Treatment will be administered for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 27.0.
Age between 30-50 years Both genders Unilateral Bell's palsy House-Brackmann grade greater than 3 Sufficient physical and mental ability to follow instructions
Exclusion Criteria:
Facial skin lesions or contraindications for procedures Cranial or facial trauma within past 3 months Prior episodes of facial paralysis Craniofacial deformities or degenerative diseases Head and neck malignancy Active infection History of upper motor neuron lesion
Participants will receive conventional therapy (massage and EMS) combined with Kabat rehabilitation (PNF techniques) for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week.
Other: Kabat Rehabilitation
Participants will receive conventional therapy combined with kinesiology taping for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week.
Other: Conventional Facial Therapy
Conventional therapy will consist of facial massage and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). Massage techniques will include light stroking, tapping, and kneading of affected facial muscles for approximately 5 minutes. Electrical muscle stimulation will be delivered using interrupted galvanic current with a pulse width of 150 μs, frequency of 1-10 Hz, and intensity of 2-5 mA for 15 minutes. Small surface electrodes will be placed on key facial muscles including frontalis, zygomaticus major, orbicularis oris, and mentalis. Total duration of conventional therapy will be approximately 20 minutes per session.
Also known as: Electrical Muscle Stimulation, Facial Massage
Kabat rehabilitation will be administered using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques. Manual resistance will be applied to stimulate contraction of affected facial muscles through three fulcrum points (upper, intermediate, and lower). Each muscle group (frontalis, corrugator supercilii, orbicularis oculi, procerus, orbicularis oris, and mentalis) will perform 10 repetitions for 2 sets. The Kabat component will last approximately 20 minutes per session. Treatment will be provided 5 sessions per week for 8 weeks.
Also known as: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
Facial Asymmetry (Sunnybrook Facial Grading System)
Scores range from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better facial symmetry.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
Functional Disability (Facial Disability Index - FDI)
Assesses physical and social well-being related to facial function. Higher scores indicate better function.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared because this study was conducted as an academic research project. The informed consent obtained from participants did not include provisions for public data sharing, and the dataset contains sensitive personal health information. Data will be stored securely and
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Feb 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Lahore