Rehabilitation technologies for facial paralysis

Abstract

Introduction: Facial paralysis causes significant motor, functional, aesthetic, and social impairments. Recent technological advances have made it possible to explore new rehabilitation alternatives that complement or substitute conventional treatments. Objective: To analyze the technological interventions available for facial paralysis rehabilitation, identify their classification, and describe the trends in their development and application. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR methodology and the protocol registered on OSF. Articles were searched in PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and OVID, including intervention studies involving individuals over 14 years of age with acquired facial paralysis. Sixteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Results: Six main types of technologies were identified: functional electrical stimulation, electromyographic biofeedback, virtual reality, robotic devices, combined low-intensity laser therapy, and interactive software. Most of the studies were case series or quasi-experimental designs, which limits the quality of the evidence. Conclusion: Emerging technologies for facial paralysis rehabilitation offer promising alternatives; however, challenges remain related to protocol standardization, accessibility, and robust clinical evidence. Additional studies are required to validate their efficacy, applicability, and cost-effectiveness in different clinical contexts.