Effect on motor and sensory function of using facial care equipment on the face in chronic hemiplegic stroke patients

Abstract

We hypothesized that motor and sensory function of the face in a chronic hemiplegic stroke patient would be improved by massage using facial care equipment. To resolve this hypothesis, we measured the changes in orbicularis oris muscle strength, the number of blinks, tactile­pressure threshold, and two­point discrimination before and after using facial care equipment. The research design consisted of type A­B. Both baseline and intervention phases were performed for one month. Six chronic hemiplegic stroke patients participated in this study. Results showed that the changes in orbicularis oris muscle strength and the number of blinks did not differ between the two phases. On the other hand, tactile­pressure threshold and the distance for discriminating twostimulididnot change in the baseline phase, whereas it decreased in the intervention phase. Moreover,the laterality of facial morphology showed a tendency to decrease in the intervention phase. These results suggest that the stimulation induced by facial care equipment affects a change in sensory function rather than motor function.