Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Physical Therapy for Chronic Bell’s Palsy: A Case Study | ||
| International Journal of Physical Therapy - AlSalam University | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 03 April 2025 PDF (387.21 K) | ||
| Document Type: Case Study | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ijtau.2025.353631.1002 | ||
| Author | ||
| Sara Barakat* | ||
| Physical therapy, Al salam university in Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Bell’s Palsy is a neurological condition affecting cranial nerve VII, leading to unilateral facial weakness. While corticosteroids are the primary treatment, alternative approaches such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Physical Therapy (PT) have shown potential benefits. Case Presentation: This study presents a 45-year-old woman, Mrs. Fathya, who was referred to physiotherapy for chronic right-sided Bell’s Palsy. Her symptoms included difficulty drinking, speaking challenges, jaw pain, and right eye dryness. TCM diagnosed her condition as a “Wind” attack on facial meridian channels, causing blood and lymph stagnation. Intervention: The treatment plan combined PT and TCM approaches, including electroacupuncture, moxibustion, facial muscle strengthening exercises, eye care education, and therapeutic modalities (low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, and soft tissue mobilization). Outcome: Following two months of treatment, Mrs. Fathya demonstrated near-complete facial muscle recovery, improved facial symmetry, and reduced pain. Conclusion: This case highlights the potential effectiveness of integrating TCM with PT for chronic Bell’s Palsy management. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these findings. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Traditional Chinese Medicine; Acupuncture; electroacupuncture | ||
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