Comparison between the beneficial Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (Diode Laser) and Transcutenous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Recovery of Patients with Bell's palsy

Abstract

Idiopathic facial paralysis or Bell's palsy (BP) is type of facial weakness (paralysis); it fairly common disorder predominantly adult age group prevalent, affects facial nerves and muscles; resulting paralysis or dropping of one side of the face. Diode or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may have helped reduce the inflammation of the facial nerve early intervention with LLLT and appeared to improve facial paralysis no reported adverse effects. One-hundred and twenty (120) subjects were participated in this study; they were divided into three classes; Class one/Forty (40) Bell's palsy patients were treated by low level laser therapy (LLLT). Class two/Forty (40) Bell's palsy patients were treated by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Class three/forty (40) healthy control subjects (volunteers) with no signs and symptoms of any systemic diseases, with matching ages and genders with BP patients, those patients diagnosed based on House-Brachmann Scale (HBS). A highly significant difference was observed between LLLT group patients and TENS group patients regarding Bell's palsy classification after treatment (p<0.001), healing (recovery) proportion was significantly higher among LLLT group patients (75%) after treatment.