Study of Virtual Reality Self-Rehabilitation to Treat Peripheral Facial Palsy and Synkinesis in Adults

What this Trial Is About

Peripheral facial palsy affects many people and can cause involuntary facial spasms called synkinesis, which disrupt facial movement and may cause painful muscle tightness. Over half of patients recovering from facial palsy develop synkinesis, which does not improve on its own. This condition results from nerve damage and increased nerve excitability, making effective management important for facial function restoration. Treatments currently include botulinum toxin injections and muscle relaxation exercises, while new approaches using biofeedback and virtual reality show promise in improving motor control. This trial evaluates the use of virtual reality self-rehabilitation for patients with peripheral facial palsy. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either rehabilitation combined with virtual reality, where they watch an avatar mimicking facial movements and imagine performing them, or rehabilitation without virtual reality. The rehabilitation includes massages, motor stimulation, and stretching exercises. The study aims to assess if virtual reality enhances motor control and reduces complications such as synkinesis. Participants are monitored over 12 months, during which the number of involuntary facial spasms is measured to compare the two groups. The study includes adult patients with recent onset facial palsy of a certain severity. Assessments focus on facial muscle control and spasm frequency. The research is supported by the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens, and runs from August 2022 through August 2029, aiming to support care improvements for facial palsy patients.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Self-rehabilitation in the Treatment of Facial Paralysis and Synkinesis