Effectiveness of kabat technique versus mirror book therapy on unilateral facial function in patients with acute bell's palsy: a comparative study

Background: Bell’s palsy is an acute lower motor neuron condition involving unilateral facial nerve weakness that can affect facial expression, symmetry, eye closure, communication and social interaction. Kabat technique and Mirror Book Therapy are physiotherapy approaches used to facilitate facial muscle activity and improve facial function. Aim: To compare the effects of Kabat technique and Mirror Book Therapy on unilateral facial function in patients with acute Bell’s palsy. Methods: This comparative experimental study included 32 participants allocated into two groups of 16. Group A received Kabat technique and Group B received Mirror Book Therapy for three weeks. Both groups also received the baseline electrical muscle stimulation protocol described in the project. Facial function was assessed before and after intervention using the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System. Data were analysed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Mean Sunnybrook scores increased from 10.94 ± 7.51 to 75.50 ± 19.90 in the Kabat group and from 24.81 ± 21.37 to 59.31 ± 17.43 in the Mirror Book Therapy group. The mean changes were 64.56 ± 16.64 and 34.50 ± 13.78, respectively. Within-group improvements were statistically significant in both groups (p < 0.001), and the between-group comparison of change scores was also statistically significant (U = 229.0, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both interventions were associated with improved Sunnybrook scores over three weeks. A larger mean improvement was reported in the Kabat group; however, baseline age imbalance and age-eligibility discrepancies in the master chart require verification before drawing a definitive comparative conclusion.