Therapeutic Taping in Facial Palsy Rehabilitation: A scoping Review of Clinical Applications and Outcomes

Facial palsy, particularly Bell’s palsy, causes facial asymmetry, impaired muscle control, synkinesis, pain, and reduced quality of life. Alongside conventional physiotherapy, taping techniques such as kinesiology taping, neuromuscular taping, and rigid taping are increasingly used as non-invasive adjuncts in rehabilitation; however, their clinical applications and outcomes are not well defined. This scoping review aims to map and summarize the existing evidence on the use of taping interventions in facial palsy rehabilitation. It will describe how different taping techniques are applied, the treatment goals and facial muscles targeted, and the outcome measures used to assess facial function, symmetry, pain, synkinesis, and patient-reported outcomes. The review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. A systematic search of PubMed, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library will include studies published between 2010 and 2025. The findings will provide an overview of current practices, identify research gaps, and inform future clinical and research directions regarding taping in facial palsy rehabilitation.