Case study of Bell's palsy applying complementary treatment within an occupational therapy model.
For 7% of people with Bell's palsy, facial impairment is permanent. The case study patient was a 48-year-old female who had no recovery from paralysis 12 weeks after onset. Goals were to restore facial sensory-motor functions, functional abilities and reduce depression. Facial paralysis was assessed by clinical observations, the Facial Disability Index and Beck Depression Index. Complementary interventions of aromatherapy, reflexology and electro-acupuncture were used with common physical agent modalities in an intensive home activity and exercise programme. The patient had 100% return of function and resolution of depression after 10 days of intervention. The limitation of this study is that it was a retrospective case study and the investigators reconstructed the case from clinical notes. Further research using a prospective approach is recommended to replicate this study.
Haltiwanger
Emily
E
College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA. emilyh@utep.edu
Huber
Theresa
T
Chang
Joe C
JC
Gonzalez-Stuart
Armando
A
Gonzales-Stuart
Armando
A
D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy