Damage or dysfunction of the facial nerve can result in paralysis, abnormal muscle tone, abnormal movement patterns, eye irritations, and decreased facial expression. Medical conditions that can typically result in facial nerve dysfunction are Bell's palsy, herpesvirus, temporal bone fracture, facial or head trauma, acoustic neuroma excision, facial nerve schwannoma, vascular damage, and neoplasms. The facial nerve sustains impairment more often than any other nerve in the body. The term Bells' Palsy is defined as an idiopathic, acute and unilateral paresis or paralysis of the face which may be partial or complete occurring with equal frequencies on right and left sides of the face. The major cause of Bell's Palsy is idiopathic, accounting for 50% of all cases. Other few suggested causes are exposure to cold, middle ear infections, dental and ENT surgeries and traumatic. The problems faced in the acute phase of Bell's palsy include difficulty in closing the affected side-eye, facial deviation to the unaffected side, difficulty in drinking, eating and speaking along with psychological problems and facial appearance is the main concern in any phase of Bell's palsy. Complete recovery of facial function in Bell's palsy occurs in 70% of people within three months (Peitersen 1994) with about 30% of people continuing to suffer facial asymmetry at rest and during movement, as well as synkinesis. Treatment of Bell's palsy is controversial due to the lack of large, randomized, controlled, prospective studies. There are indications that steroids or antiviral agents are beneficial but also studies, which show no beneficial effect. Additional measures include eye protection, physiotherapy, acupuncture, botulinum toxin, or possibly surgery. A Cochrane review done by in February 2011 has concluded that there is only very low-quality evidence that facial exercise reduces sequel in acute cases. A study done in 2009 has concluded that massage done in mime therapy has shown to create new growth and increase the production of collagen and connective tissue in facial muscles and restore facial muscle action. A study done on mime therapy efficacy in patients with long term facial nerve paresis shows that mime therapy improves facial symmetry.A study of 2014 observed the half-mirror biofeedback exercise in combination with three botulinum toxin after facial paralysis. Half-mirror biofeedback rehabilitation designed for facial sequelae shows good results in combination with botulinum toxin therapy. This facial rehabilitation strategy, consisting of three injections of botulinum toxin and half-mirror biofeedback exercises, proceeds over the course of 2 years and offers a long-lasting cure for facial synkinesis and facial symmetry as well as improved facial aesthetics. A study in 2011 on facial biofeedback rehabilitation with a mirror after administration of a single dose of botulinum A toxin on facial synkinesis was examined in patients with chronic facial palsy concluded that Facial biofeedback rehabilitation with a mirror after administration of a single dose of botulinum A toxin can be a long-lasting treatment of established facial synkinesis. A study of, 2013 Mime therapy improves facial symmetry and functions more than conventional therapy and home exercises in people with acute Bell's Palsy. No difference was found between conventional therapy and home exercise program. A study in, 2016 investigate the effects of mirror therapy using a tablet PC for post-stroke central facial paresis. A prospective, randomized controlled study was performed. Twenty-one post-stroke patients were enrolled. All patients performed 15 minutes of orofacial exercise twice daily for 14 days concluded that mirror therapy using a tablet PC might be an effective tool for treating central facial paresis after stroke. The past research records are evident that therapists have worked with mime therapy and mirror therapy. The two protocols have not been complimented for rehabilitation. So the aim of this study is to observe and determine the combined effect of these two treatment protocols to get the results and improve the facial symmetry in acute bell's palsy patients.
