Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background The report of a patient with blepharospasm during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested a potential ameliorating effect of wearing a face mask. Objective We prospectively evaluated a possible symptom change through wearing a face mask in all consecutive patients with craniofacial hyper...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Neurological Research and Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-021-00123-2 |
| _version_ | 1818739652214915072 |
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| author | Frank Erbguth Rüdiger Lange |
| author_facet | Frank Erbguth Rüdiger Lange |
| author_sort | Frank Erbguth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The report of a patient with blepharospasm during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested a potential ameliorating effect of wearing a face mask. Objective We prospectively evaluated a possible symptom change through wearing a face mask in all consecutive patients with craniofacial hyperkinesias in our botulinum toxin outpatient treatment cohort. Methods Patients with craniofacial hyperkinesia were asked to rate changes of symptoms between − 2 (markedly worsened), − 1 (slightly worsened), 0 (no change), + 1 (slightly improved) and + 2 (markedly improved). Results Of 101 patients (19 with blepharospasm [BSP], 54 with cervical dystonia [CD], 6 with oromandibular dystonia [OMD], and 22 with hemifacial spasm [HFS]) 81 (80%) rated no symptom change, 11 (11%) symptom improvement, and 9 (9%) symptom worsening. Improvements in 9 of the 82 dystonia patients (BSP, CD, OMD) consisted of a perceived decrease in dystonic activity. 33% of dystonia patients had previously noticed or used a sensory trick. Its presence turned out to be a significant predictor of improvement during mask wearing. Deteriorations were attributed from all patients to disturbing effects of the mask interacting with facial muscle overactivity. Improvements in HSF patients were attributed to the symptom-hiding nature of the mask and not to an effect on the spasm activity itself. Conclusions Wearing a face mask did not affect self-perceived symptoms in 80% of patients with craniofacial hyperkinesis. 11% of patients reported an improvement, which occurred as sensory trick in dystonia patients and as a concealment of a stigmatizing facial expression in patients with HSF. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:28:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-606593ab08fa4c72a4b49c59b4b68b7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-3489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:28:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neurological Research and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-606593ab08fa4c72a4b49c59b4b68b7f2022-12-21T21:25:40ZengBMCNeurological Research and Practice2524-34892021-06-01311410.1186/s42466-021-00123-2Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemicFrank Erbguth0Rüdiger Lange1Department of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical University – Nuremberg General HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical University – Nuremberg General HospitalAbstract Background The report of a patient with blepharospasm during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested a potential ameliorating effect of wearing a face mask. Objective We prospectively evaluated a possible symptom change through wearing a face mask in all consecutive patients with craniofacial hyperkinesias in our botulinum toxin outpatient treatment cohort. Methods Patients with craniofacial hyperkinesia were asked to rate changes of symptoms between − 2 (markedly worsened), − 1 (slightly worsened), 0 (no change), + 1 (slightly improved) and + 2 (markedly improved). Results Of 101 patients (19 with blepharospasm [BSP], 54 with cervical dystonia [CD], 6 with oromandibular dystonia [OMD], and 22 with hemifacial spasm [HFS]) 81 (80%) rated no symptom change, 11 (11%) symptom improvement, and 9 (9%) symptom worsening. Improvements in 9 of the 82 dystonia patients (BSP, CD, OMD) consisted of a perceived decrease in dystonic activity. 33% of dystonia patients had previously noticed or used a sensory trick. Its presence turned out to be a significant predictor of improvement during mask wearing. Deteriorations were attributed from all patients to disturbing effects of the mask interacting with facial muscle overactivity. Improvements in HSF patients were attributed to the symptom-hiding nature of the mask and not to an effect on the spasm activity itself. Conclusions Wearing a face mask did not affect self-perceived symptoms in 80% of patients with craniofacial hyperkinesis. 11% of patients reported an improvement, which occurred as sensory trick in dystonia patients and as a concealment of a stigmatizing facial expression in patients with HSF.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-021-00123-2Face maskCraniofacial dystoniaBlepharospasmOromandibular dystoniaHemifacial spasmCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Frank Erbguth Rüdiger Lange Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic Neurological Research and Practice Face mask Craniofacial dystonia Blepharospasm Oromandibular dystonia Hemifacial spasm COVID-19 |
| title | Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | sensory trick effect in craniofacial dystonia as one of the possible impacts of wearing face masks during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Face mask Craniofacial dystonia Blepharospasm Oromandibular dystonia Hemifacial spasm COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-021-00123-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT frankerbguth sensorytrickeffectincraniofacialdystoniaasoneofthepossibleimpactsofwearingfacemasksduringthecovid19pandemic AT rudigerlange sensorytrickeffectincraniofacialdystoniaasoneofthepossibleimpactsofwearingfacemasksduringthecovid19pandemic |