Crystal Touch conducts private extensive scientific research on Bell’s palsy and its residuals and complications, with the main focus on synkinesis.
Our results show that synkinesis recovery is possible and Bell’s palsy long-term complications can be reduced. These statements are supported by our scientific work, as well as by the results that our patients are able to achieve when following a full Neuro-Proprioceptive Rehabilitation program.
Our scientific research is conducted by Alex Pashov. Alex Pashov publishes and presents some of our findings in scientific papers and during international congresses.
As some of our research is still in the process, not all of our findings are publicly available at the moment.
Our Research Focus
- Bell’s palsy as a functional disorder: its causes and physiological mechanisms of development. Major contributing factors, therapies and medications that can facilitate the recovery at early stages (from 2 weeks to 3 months)
- Bell’s palsy complications: their manifestations and the existing methods of treatments at mid-term stages of the recovery (from 3 months to 1 year)
- Assessment of the recovery and complications after Bell’s palsy: commonly used grading scales, questionnaires and software-based video analysis methods that allow to grade and monitor the recovery of the functions of facial nerve and facial muscles
- Development and verification of the method of Crystal Touch Neuro-Proprioceptive facial Rehabilitation for the treatment of Bell’s palsy complications at remote stages of the recovery (more than 1 year)
- Emotional, psychological and physiological consequences of complications after long-standing Bell’s palsy, and their impact on patients’ quality of life
- Development and verification of the quantitative and objective instrumental method of Synkinetic Correlation for measuring of synkinesis and contractures of facial muscles
- The Origin of facial synkinesis after Bell’s palsy. Psycho-physiological, behavioral and social factors that contribute to their forming. Scientific substantiation of reversibility of facial synkinesis
Scientific publications
“Paradigm shift in rehabilitation of long-standing Bell’s palsy during later stages of recovery”
In this article, we discuss the traditional approach to possible causes, available treatments of Bell’s palsy complications and share our concept of a new paradigm in the rehabilitation of long-standing Bell’s palsy during later stages of the recovery (2 years and more).
“Nerve conduction study in rehabilitation of patients with residuals and complications of long-standing Bell’s palsy”
The second article is about our method of measuring nerve conductivity in facial muscles after facial and Bell’s palsy. Our method addresses the issues of general Nerve Conduction Study and elaborates on the improvements to this study made by the clinic’s specialists to overcome the issues and improve the results.
Presentations
“New Paradigm for Rehabilitation of Synkinesis”
- 14th World Congress of Neurology
- Dubai, UAE
Presentation topic: “Facial synkinesis in patients with long-standing Bell’s palsy is a reversible consequence of disrupted reciprocal inhibition caused by the prolonged absence of proprioceptive feedback”.
“Facial Synkinesis as a conditioned reflex”
- 5th European Congress of NeuroRehabilitation
- Lausanne, Switzerland
Presentation topic: “Facial synkinesis after Bell’s palsy are caused by neuroplastic changes in patient’s mimetic patterns, NOT by aberrant regeneration of facial nerve and are, therefore, reversible.”
“The Origin of Synkinesis”
- 9th World Congress for NeuroRehabilitation
- Philadelphia, USA
Presentation topic: “The Origin of Synkinesis: the most common complication after Bell’s Palsy is in fact, reversible.”
Facial synkinesis is NOT a result of aberrant regeneration of the facial nerve. It is a CONDITIONED REFLEX, and it is, therefore, reversible. This is the conclusion of 5 years of research at Crystal Touch clinic. Watch the video for the full explanation of our findings to understand how synkinesis happens and how it can be recovered.
“Method of Synkinetic Correlation”
- 3rd European Congress of NeuroRehabilitation
- Vienna, Austria
Poster presentation: “Measuring Synkinesis after Bell’s Palsy: Objective, Quantitative, Instrumental method of Synkinetic Correlation.”
Click on the poster image to read the details of the presentation.
“Efficacy of neuro-proprioceptive facial rehabilitation method” II
- International Congress on NeuroRehabilitation and Neural Repair – “NeuroRehabilitation and Neuroscience Connected”
- Maastricht, The Netherlands
“Efficacy of neuro-proprioceptive facial rehabilitation method” I
Poster presentation: “Efficacy of neuro-proprioceptive facial rehabilitation method (NPR) for the lasting reduction of Bell’s palsy sequelae in the later stages of the recovery.”
Click on the poster image to see more details.
- 8th World Congress for NeuroRehabilitation
- Istanbul, Turkey
Poster presentation: “Efficacy of neuro-proprioceptive facial rehabilitation method (NPR) for the lasting reduction of Bell’s palsy sequelae in the later stages of the recovery.”
