Laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks: a randomized controlled trial.

To investigate the efficacy of laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in alleviating symptoms among patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks. The randomized controlled trial has been performed from May 2021 to April 2023. Patients were eligible who had Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks on out-patient Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Beijing Tongren Hospital. The laser acupuncture group received class IV laser treatment for 3 times per weeks, a total of 72 times. The control group received the same treatment procedure except the laser parameter. The primary outcome measures comprised House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system and electroneurography. Secondary outcome measures comprised Sunnybrook facial grading system, electromyography, and the blink reflex. A total of 84 participants were included (42 control group, 42 laser acupuncture group). After treatment, House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.30; P < 0.001), and the pathologic numbers of electroneuronography were statistically different between the laser acupuncture group and control group, including orbicularis oculi (OR,0.08; 95% CI, 0.02-0.21; P < 0.001), Frontalis muscle (OR,0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.39; P < 0.001), Orbicularis oris (OR,0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.36; P < 0.001), Ala nasi muscle (OR,0.06; 95% CI, 0.02-0.18; P < 0.001). In secondary outcomes, Sunnybrook facial grading system, has significant difference between the two groups (20.26; 95% CI, 14.69 to 25.83; P < 0.01). Latency by ENoG, include orbicularis oculi (-0.61; 95% CI, -0.43 to -0.09; P < 0.001), frontalis muscle (-0.12; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.03; P < 0.01), orbicularis oris (-0.28; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.16; P < 0.001), and ala nasi muscle (-0.26; 95% CI, -0.38 to -0.16; P < 0.001). All amplitudes of MUAPs and durations by electromyography (EMG) showed statistically significant differences compared with the control group after treatment. For the frontalis muscle, the amplitude of MUAPs was -64.23 (95% CI, -80.89 to -47.56; P < 0.001) and duration was -1.18 (95% CI, -1.49 to -0.87; P < 0.001). For orbicularis oris, amplitude of MUAPs was -29.82 (95% CI, -55.03 to -4.62; P = 0.02) and duration was -0.57 (95% CI, -0.94 to -0.20; P < 0.001). For depressor angulli oris, amplitude of MUAPs was -47.06 (95% CI, -62.15 to -31.97; P < 0.001) and duration was -2.21 (95% CI, -2.69 to -1.72; P < 0.001). Blink reflex, including R1 (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.16; P < .001), R2 (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.004-0.29; P < .001), and R2 latency differences (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.51; P < .001), have significant difference between the two groups, respectively. The findings suggest that laser acupuncture relieve symptoms for patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05846217.

A Nonrandomized Trial of the Effects of Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation Therapy on Bell's Palsy with a Duration of Greater Than 8 Weeks.

Objective: To determine whether photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) by class IV Multiwave Locked System laser treatment as an adjunctive therapy could relieve symptoms in patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks. Materials and methods: This nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022. Patients were eligible if they had Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks at the out-patient department of otorhinolaryngology in Beijing Tongren Hospital. The control group consisted of patients recruited between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. The PBMT group consisted of patients recruited between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. In this study, the PBM used has a wavelength of 808 and 905 nm, 1.2 W power (808 nm is 1 W, 905 nm is 200 mW), continuous mode emission (808 nm) and pulsed mode emission (905 nm), 8.35 J/cm2 dosimetry, administered 3 times per week, 72 times of total treatment. The primary outcome measures included the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system, the Sunnybrook facial grading system, and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE). Secondary outcome measures comprised electroneurography, electromyography, and the blink reflex. Results: A total of 54 participants were included (27 in the control group and 27 in the photobiomodulation group). After 6 months, the House-Brackmann grading system [risk difference, -0.59, confidence interval (95% CI), -0.81 to -0.38, relative risk, 0.27, 95% CI, 0.13-0.56, p < 0.001], Sunnybrook facial grading system (21.14, 95% CI, 11.71-30.58; p < 0.001), and FaCE (-0.20, 95% CI, 0.41-0.02; p = 0.07) had significant difference between the two groups. Latency of ala nasi muscle (10.92, 95% CI, 5.58-16.27; p < 0.001) was not statistically significant after treatment compared with the control group; however, most of the electrophysiological examinations have significant difference between the two groups, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that PBMT may relieve symptoms for patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05585333.

Effectiveness of multiwave locked system laser on the treatment of patients with idiopathic Bell's palsy: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of scanning and point application of multiwave locked system (MLS) laser therapy on the recovery of patients with idiopathic Bell's palsy (IBP). A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out on 60 patients with subacute BP. Patients were randomly assigned into three groups of 20 patients each. Facial massage and facial exercises were applied to all patients. Group one received MLS laser as a manual scanning technique (10 J/cm2, area 50cm2, total energy 500 J). Group two received MLS laser using point application technique (10 J/point, 8 points, total 80 J). Group three received placebo laser. House-Brackmann scale (HBS) and facial disability index (FDI) were used to evaluate the facial recovery. Assessment was performed at baseline and after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. Comparison within and between groups was performed statistically with significance level p < 0.05. Results showed significant improvement in the FDI and HBS after treatment in all groups. Both scanning and point application significantly improved the score of FDI and HBS more than placebo group. Scanning technique combined with facial massage and exercises had a more significant effect than the point application group or the placebo group in improving FDI and HBS scores after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. The MLS laser is an effective physiotherapy method used for the treatment of patients with IBP. MLS laser in scanning or point application techniques was more effective than exercise alone with greater effect of scanning technique than point application technique.

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy on management of Bell's palsy: a systematic review.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with Bell's palsy (BP) through a systematic review method. We systematically searched international databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to find eligible articles without language limitation. All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy of the LLLT with placebo laser, exercise, massage, or no intervention on BP patients were included. Four studies (out of 259) had met our inclusion criteria involving 171 patients and were entered to the systematic review. Full texts of the selected studies were retrieved and critically appraised using Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The patients of all trials were in sub-acute (less than 1 week) stage. Both of LLLT and control groups showed significant improvement after trials. Two authors reported significant differences between the groups after 6 weeks of laser application (830 nm, 100 mW). In converse, two other authors did not identify any effectiveness following 4 weeks and 15 days of LLLT application with 670 and 830 nm wavelength, sequentially. There is clear lack of information lead to get and evidence-based suggestion for the LLLT application on Bells' palsy; however, the LLLT irradiation with 830 nm and 100 mW power for a period of 6 weeks might be beneficial on recovery for the patients with sub-acute Bell's palsy. There were no reported adverse effects during treatment and/or follow-up sessions.

Role of low-level laser therapy added to facial expression exercises in patients with idiopathic facial (Bell's) palsy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy in conjunction with conventional facial exercise treatment on functional outcomes during the early recovery period in patients with facial paralysis. Forty-six patients (mean age 41 ± 9.7 years; 40 women and 6 men) were randomized into two groups. Patients in the first group received low-level laser treatment as well as facial exercise treatment, while patients in the second group participated in facial exercise intervention alone. Laser treatment was administered at a wavelength of 830 nm, output power of 100 Mw, and frequency of 1 KHz using a gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAIAs, infrared laser) diode laser. A mean energy density of 10 J/cm2 was administered to eight points of the affected side of the face three times per week, for a total of 6 weeks. The rate of facial improvement was evaluated using the facial disability index (FDI) before, 3 weeks after, and 6 weeks after treatment. Friedman analysis of variance was performed to compare the data from the parameters repeatedly measured in the inner-group analysis. Bonferroni correction was performed to compare between groups as a post hoc test if the variance analysis test result was significant. To detect the group differences, the Bonferroni Student t test was used. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare numeric data between the groups. In the exercise group, although no significant difference in FDI scores was noted between the start of treatment and week 3 (p < 0.05), significant improvement was observed at week 6 (p < 0.001). In the laser group, significant improvement in FDI scores relative to baseline was observed at 3 and 6 weeks (p < 0.001). Improvements in FDI scores were significantly greater at weeks 3 and 6 in the laser group than those in the exercise group (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that combined treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and exercise therapy is associated with significant improvements in FDI when compared with exercise therapy alone.

Efficacy of high and low level laser therapy in the treatment of Bell's palsy: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial.

The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) and low level laser therapy (LLLT) on the treatment of patients with Bell's palsy. Forty-eight patients participated in and completed this study. The mean age was 43 ± 9.8 years. They were randomly assigned into three groups: HILT group, LLLT group, and exercise group. All patients were treated with facial massage and exercises, but the HILT and LLLT groups received the respective laser therapy. The grade of facial recovery was assessed by the facial disability scale (FDI) and the House-Brackmann scale (HBS). Evaluation was carried out 3 and 6 weeks after treatment for all patients. Laser treatments included eight points on the affected side of the face three times a week for 6 successive weeks. FDI and HBS were used to assess the grade of recovery. The scores of both FDI and HBS were taken before as well as 3 and 6 weeks after treatment. The Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed ranks test were used to compare the FDI and HBS scores within each group. The result showed that both HILT and LLLT significantly improved the recovery of patients with Bell's palsy. Moreover, HILT was the most effective treatment modality compared to LLLT and massage with exercises. Thus, both HILT and LLLT are effective physical therapy modalities for the recovery of patients with Bell's palsy, with HILT showing a slightly greater improvement than LLLT.