Characteristics of the two rehabilitation groups
muscle overactivity
CONTRACTIONS
Several differences may be anticipated between the two rehabilitation treatments. Neither quality not quantity of rehabilitation have been imposed on the therapists involved in the control group, in order to best reflect real life. It is thus likely that frequency, techniques, duration of rehabilitation sessions will be highly heterogeneous in the control group. We have planned to collect these rehabilitation parameters (D90 and D180) in order to estimate the work carried out in that control group. Technically, in the rehabilitation techniques used in current practice, motor strengthening efforts are rarely recommended and used, particularly at maximal intensity as mentioned above, because of the concern or belief that this might trigger muscle overactivity. As a consequence, the amount of rehabilitative work classically performed typically avoids intensity and may thus be insufficient to exploit behavior-induced nervous system plasticity. From a psychological point of view, patient responsibilization and implication in the rehabilitation program to achieve higher work intensity levels constitute the essence of the Guided Self-rehabilitation Contract strategy. The patient has an active responsibility to accomplish the prescribed daily work and to notify it in the quantitative diary, in stark contrast with the common passive expectation of community therapy sessions in current practice.Overall, this study should increase the level of knowledge on the effects of facial motor strengthening through Guided Self-rehabilitation Contracts in chronic stages. It will also improve the level of knowledge on facial motion quantification at rest and during voluntary and emotional facial contractions. The validation of a new clinical scale (the Créteil Scale) and of a wearable 3D motion analysis system of facial movements will help to better quantify PFP.