Electrotherapy

An idiopathic facial nerve palsy, or unilateral facial nerve paresis/paralysis, commonly referred to as Bells’s Palsy, is the most common acute mono-neuropathy disorder of unknown origin affecting a single cranial nerve VII, associated with facial nerve weakness or paralysis. Electrostimulation (electrical stimulation) refers to the application of electrical current through electrodes placed directly on the skin. For individuals diagnosed with Bell’s palsy who receive electrotherapy as stimulation to the affected facial muscles, the evidence includes systematic reviews. Relevant outcomes are symptoms, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.