Comparative effects of facial massage and oral motor exercises on sialorrhea in individuals with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder often accompanied by sialorrhea, caused by hypersalivation or impaired saliva clearance. Although motor symptoms have been widely studied, non-motor features like sialorrhea remain underrecognized. Objective: To compare the effects of facial massage and oral motor exercises on sialorrhea in individuals with PD. Methods: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 participants were randomly subjected to two groups: group A with facial massage (n = 30) and group B with oral motor exercises (n = 30). Demographic data were collected, drooling severity was assessed using the Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS) and Drooling Rating Scale (DRS). Interventions were administered four times weekly for eight weeks. Results: Post-test DSFS mean and standard deviation values were 6.37 ± 0.89 for group A and 2.80 ± 0.89 for group B. DRS values were 2.07 ± 0.52 for group A and 0.83 ± 0.59 for group B. A statistically significant difference was found between groups (p < 0.001), indicating superior outcomes for oral motor exercises. Conclusion: Both interventions led to significant physiological improvements, including enhanced swallowing efficiency and saliva clearance. However, oral motor exercises demonstrated a greater reduction in hypersalivation and better drooling control than facial massage. This study highlights the effectiveness of oral motor exercises in managing sialorrhea in PD patients.