Kabat Rehabilitation Versus Kinesiology Taping in Bell's Palsy

NCT07436624 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UOL/IREB/25/15/03/35
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Bell's Palsy; Facial Paralysis

Keywords

Kabat Rehabilitation; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Kinesiology Taping; Facial Asymmetry; Sunnybrook Facial Grading System; Facial Disability Index; House-Brackmann Scale; Physiotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Facial Asymmetry (Sunnybrook Facial Grading System)

  Scores range from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better facial symmetry.

  Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Functional Disability (Facial Disability Index - FDI)

  Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Kabat Rehabilitation + Conventional Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive conventional therapy (massage and EMS) combined with Kabat rehabilitation (PNF techniques) for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week.

Other: Kabat Rehabilitation

Kinesiology Taping + Conventional Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive conventional therapy combined with kinesiology taping for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week.

Other: Conventional Facial Therapy

Interventions

Conventional Facial Therapy OTHER

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

Kinesiology Taping + Conventional Therapy

Kabat Rehabilitation OTHER

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)

Kabat Rehabilitation + Conventional Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Lahore Teaching Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (10)

• Atif, M. M., Hussain, K., Naeem, I., Asghar, Z., Batool, F., Butt, S., & Khalil, A. (2024). Prevalence of Recurrent Bell's Palsy: Prevalence of Recurrent Bell's Palsy. Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences, 50-54.

  BACKGROUND

• Athawale, V. K., Bawiskar, D. P., & Phansopkar, P. A. (2021). Rehabilitation of a Patient with Bell's Palsy. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences, 10(20), 1551-1555.

  BACKGROUND

• Amjad, A., Iqbal, M. H., Jamil, A., Kamran, S., Maqbool, S., & Akbar, M. (2024). Comparative Effects of Kabat Rehabilitation and Kinesiotaping on Functional Disability, Synkinesis and Patient Satisfaction in Patients with Bell's Palsy. Journal Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, 12(1).

  BACKGROUND

• Alqahtani, S. Y., Almalki, Z. A., Alnafie, J. A., Alnemari, F. S., AlGhamdi, T. M., AlGhamdi, D. A., Albogami, L. O., & Ibrahim, M. (2024). Recurrent Bell's palsy: A comprehensive analysis of associated factors and outcomes. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, 01455613241301230.

  BACKGROUND

• Alanazi, F., Kashoo, F. Z., Alduhishy, A., Aldaihan, M., Ahmad, F., & Alanazi, A. (2022). Incidence rate, risk factors, and management of Bell's palsy in the Qurayyat region of Saudi Arabia. PeerJ, 10, e14076.

  BACKGROUND

• Al Najim, M. M., & Marah, L. D. H. A. (2025). Identifying Key Risk Factors for Bell's Palsy and Insights from a Retrospective Analysis. Central Asian Journal of Medical and Natural Science, 6(2), 586-593.

  BACKGROUND

• Al-Hasan, H. K. J., Al-Salim, A. A., & Haji, S. A. (2023). Prevalence of facial nerve palsy in the neuro-medicine private clinic. Romanian JouRnal of neuRology, 22(2), 137.

  BACKGROUND

• Ahmed, S., Shahid, A., & Waheed, A. (2023). Effectiveness of Kabat Exercises along with Mirror Therapy in Bell's Palsy. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 3(2), 1288-1293.

  BACKGROUND

• Adhikari, S. P., Chaudhary, M., & Dev, R. (2020). Kabat interventions integrated with facial expressive and functional exercises for better and speedy recovery in bell's palsy; a pre-post design. Journal of Chitwan Medical College, 10(4), 71-76.

  BACKGROUND

• Abioke, U. B., Anosike, W., Olaniyi, A. O., Okwuowulu, I. L., Mandal, M., Eze, C. Y., Abioke, U., Anosike, W. O., Okwuowulu, I., & Eze, C. Y. (2025). Physiotherapy Management of Bell's Palsy in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report. Cureus, 17(7).

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Bell Palsy; Facial Paralysis; Facial Asymmetry

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Herpesviridae Infections; DNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Facial Nerve Diseases; Cranial Nerve Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Paralysis; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor of Physical Therapy Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 21, 2026
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: December 11, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 13, 2026
• Study Completion: April 12, 2026
• Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)