Abstract
The purposes of this study were to clarify the various complaints of the patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy and discuss effect on reduction of synkinesis by EMG-biofeedback therapy. In the survey of complaints in 84 patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy, the patients complained various symptoms as well as facial muscle weakness. The symptoms often appeared in acute and incomplete recovered patients. Synkinesis appeared in most of the cases and especially closing eye movement associated with mouth movements was major complaint. We treated 9 patients with synkinesis by EMG-biofeedback therapy. The therapy reduced abnormal muscle activities for M. orbicularis oculi during mouth movements by visual feedback. After the therapy, integrated EMG decreased in all patients and as a result, its average became at the rate of 66.6±14.6% (87〜40%). The closing eyes during mouth movements reduced in 6 patients. We think that EMG-biofeedback therapy has an effect on reduction of synkinesis, because patients can get information from the muscle immediately and easily, and learn the best control of muscle movements. Physical therapy for peripheral facial nerve palsy needs not only facial muscle strengthning exercise but also reduction of various symptoms such as synkinesis.
