Use of Elastic Bandage in the Rehabilitation of the Facial Paralysis: Case Report

Abstract

AbstractThe therapeutic action before the rehabilitation of facial paralysis has used various resources, among them the application of elastic bandage. The use of the same has become increasingly more frequent in speech-language rehabilitation, with findings of positive results, including cases of facial paralysis. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of the application of elastic bandage in an adult patient with facial paralysis after stroke. Type of study: case report. Male patient, 68 years old, was evaluated with facial paralysis in the left hemiface after three years of episode of stroke. At the beginning of the intervention, he presented central facial paralysis on the left, with a reduction in the amplitude of contraction of the risorius and zygomatic muscles. In addition, he presented hyper-reactivity of the right facial muscles, with compensatory movements. The therapy had a duration of 45 minutes and a frequency of twice a week, with a total duration of two months. Massage facilitator of neuromuscular proprioception, functional exercises and application of elastic bandage at the end of each session were carried out. The application occurred in the two facial hemispheres, with the aim of stimulating the movement of the paralyzed side and inhibiting the compensatory movements and the hyperactivity of the healthy side. Improvement of the range of movement of the muscles of the paralyzed side and reduction of compensatory movements of the contralateral side were verified, resulting in greater facial symmetry. It was concluded that the application of elastic bandage, associated with other techniques of speech therapy, promoted the optimization of the facial movements of adult patients with facial paralysis after three years of stroke. Keywords: Athletic Tape. Facial Paralysis. Speech. Resumo A atuacao terapeutica frente a reabilitacao da paralisia facial tem utilizado de diferentes recursos, dentre eles a aplicacao da bandagem elastica. O uso desta tem se tornado cada vez mais frequente na reabilitacao fonoaudiologica, com constatacoes de resultados positivos, incluindo casos de paralisia facial. O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever os efeitos da aplicacao da bandagem elastica em um paciente adulto com paralisia facial apos acidente vascular encefalico. Tipo de estudo: relato de caso. Foi avaliado paciente sexo masculino, 68 anos de idade, com paralisia facial em hemiface esquerda apos tres anos de episodio de acidente vascular encefalico. No inicio da intervencao, apresentava paralisia facial central a esquerda, com reducao da amplitude de contracao dos musculos risorio e zigomatico. Alem disso, apresentava hiper-reatividade da musculatura facial direita, com movimentacoes compensatorias. A terapia apresentava duracao de 45 minutos e frequencia de duas vezes por semana, com duracao total de dois meses. Foram realizados: massagem facilitadora de propriocepcao neuromuscular, exercicios funcionais e aplicacao de bandagem elastica no fim de cada sessao. A aplicacao ocorreu nas duas hemifaces com o objetivo de estimular o movimento do lado paralisado e de inibir os movimentos compensatorios e a hiperatividade do lado saudavel. Foram verificados melhora da amplitude de movimento da musculatura do lado paralisado e reducao dos movimentos compensatorio do lado contralateral, resultando em maior simetria facial. Concluiu-se que a aplicacao da bandagem elastica, associada as demais tecnicas de fonoterapia, promoveu a otimizacao da movimentacao facial de paciente adulto com paralisia facial apos tres anos de acidente vascular encefalico. Palavras-chave: Fita Atletica. Paralisia Facial. Fala.