Efektivitas Kombinasi Intervensi Fisioterapi pada Bell’s Palsy Sinistra Fase Akut: Studi Kasus

Abstract

Bell's palsy is an acute peripheral neuropathy of the facial nerve (N. VII) characterized by sudden unilateral facial weakness without a clear cause, which can cause facial motor function disorders and have an impact on the patient's psychosocial aspects. Physiotherapy management in the acute phase is necessary to aid the recovery of neuromuscular function and prevent complications. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy management in patients with acute left Bell's palsy. The research method used a case study design on a 23-year-old female patient diagnosed with acute left Bell's palsy. Examinations were conducted using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Ugo Fisch Scale, and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT). Physiotherapy intervention was given for 3 weeks with a frequency of twice a week (6 sessions) in the form of infrared (IR), massage, mirror exercise, and electrical stimulation (ES) using IDC current, with evaluation at each therapy session. The results showed a decrease in pain from NRS 4/10 to 0/10 and an increase in facial muscle strength based on MMT from a score of 0 to 4 in several muscles, especially the orbicularis oculi muscle. The Ugo Fisch Scale assessment also showed improvement in the ability to close the eyes and several other facial movements. These findings indicate that the combination of physiotherapy interventions in the acute phase has the potential to help improve neuromuscular activation and facial muscle function, thereby potentially aiding in recovery.