Post-surgery Rehabilitative Intervention Based on Imitation Therapy and Mouth-Hand Motor Synergies Provides Better Outcomes in Smile Production in Children and Adults With Long Term Facial Paralysis - CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique Access content directly
Journal Articles Frontiers in Neurology Year : 2022

Post-surgery Rehabilitative Intervention Based on Imitation Therapy and Mouth-Hand Motor Synergies Provides Better Outcomes in Smile Production in Children and Adults With Long Term Facial Paralysis

Elisa de Stefani
  • Function : Author
Anna Barbot
  • Function : Author
Cecilia Zannoni
  • Function : Author
Mauro Belluardo
  • Function : Author
Chiara Bertolini
  • Function : Author
Rita Cosoli
  • Function : Author
Bernardo Bianchi
  • Function : Author
Andrea Ferri
  • Function : Author
Francesca Zito
  • Function : Author
Michela Bergonzani
  • Function : Author
Arianna Schiano Lomoriello
  • Function : Author

Abstract

Rehabilitation after free gracilis muscle transfer (smile surgery, SS) is crucial for a functional recovery of the smiling skill, mitigating social and psychological problems resulting from facial paralysis. We compared two post-SS rehabilitation treatments: the traditional based on teeth clenching exercises and the FIT-SAT (facial imitation and synergistic activity treatment). FIT-SAT, based on observation/imitation therapy and on hand-mouth motor synergies would facilitate neuronal activity in the facial motor cortex avoiding unwanted contractions of the jaw, implementing muscle control. We measured the smile symmetry on 30 patients, half of whom after SS underwent traditional treatment (control group, CG mean age = 20 ± 9) while the other half FIT-SAT (experimental group, EG mean age = 21 ± 14). We compared pictures of participants while holding two postures: maximum and gentle smile. The former corresponds to the maximal muscle contraction, whereas the latter is strongly linked to the control of muscle strength during voluntary movements. No differences were observed between the two groups in the maximum smile, whereas in the gentle smile the EG obtained a better symmetry than the CG. These results support the efficacy of FIT-SAT in modulating the smile allowing patients to adapt their smile to the various social contexts, aspect which is crucial during reciprocal interactions.

Dates and versions

hal-04304534 , version 1 (24-11-2023)

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Elisa de Stefani, Anna Barbot, Cecilia Zannoni, Mauro Belluardo, Chiara Bertolini, et al.. Post-surgery Rehabilitative Intervention Based on Imitation Therapy and Mouth-Hand Motor Synergies Provides Better Outcomes in Smile Production in Children and Adults With Long Term Facial Paralysis. Frontiers in Neurology, 2022, 13, ⟨10.3389/fneur.2022.757523⟩. ⟨hal-04304534⟩
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