Role of Kabat physical rehabilitation in Bell's palsy: a randomized trial

When applied at an early stage, Kabat's rehabilitation was shown to provide a better and faster recovery rate in comparison with non-rehabilitated patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of an early rehabilitative approach to Bell's palsy patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized study involved 20 consecutive patients (10 males, 10 females; aged 35-42 years) affected by Bell's palsy, classified according to the House-Brackmann (HB) grading system and grouped on the basis of undergoing or not early physical rehabilitation according to Kabat, i.e. a proprioceptive neuromuscular rehabilitation. The evaluation was carried out by measuring the amplitude of the compound motor action potential (CMAP), as well as by observing the initial and final HB grade, at days 4, 7 and 15 after onset of facial palsy. RESULTS: Patients belonging to the rehabilitation group clearly showed an overall improvement of clinical stage at the planned final observation, i.e. 15 days after onset of facial palsy, without presenting greater values of CMAP.