Physiotherapy Management of Bell’s Palsy: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Bell’s palsy is an acute peripheral facial nerve disorder that can impair facial movement, symmetry, oral function, daily activities, and psychological well-being. Comprehensive assessment may help describe changes across different clinical domains during rehabilitation.
Objective: To describe the physiotherapy assessment, multimodal intervention, and observed clinical changes in a patient with left peripheral Bell’s palsy.
Methods: A descriptive single case report was conducted in a 59-year-old woman with left peripheral Bell’s palsy who received physiotherapy at RSUD Haji Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan. The intervention comprised infrared radiation, massage, tapping, stretching, facial expression and vowel exercises, and functional facial exercises. Outcomes were assessed before treatment and after three documented sessions using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), the Ugo Fisch Facial Grading Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM A). Data were analyzed descriptively.
Results: Facial MMT remained unchanged at 3 after three sessions. The Ugo Fisch score increased from 54 to 70, representing an observed increase of 16 points. The HAM A score decreased from 6 to 4, representing an observed reduction of 2 points. Eating and drinking difficulties identified at baseline were not reassessed using a standardized post intervention measure.
Conclusion: During the three-session observation period, facial function and recorded anxiety scores changed, whereas facial muscle performance measured by MMT remained unchanged. These observations cannot establish a causal effect of physiotherapy because of the single case design, short observation period, potential spontaneous recovery, multimodal intervention, and incomplete information regarding concurrent medical management.