22/01/2024
Can acupuncture improve facial palsy outcomes?
Acupuncture has been studied for its effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients with facial palsy, particularly Bell's palsy. Here are some key findings from recent research:
A randomized controlled trial found that acupuncture led to significant improvements in the social and physical aspects of sequelae of Bell’s palsy compared with a waiting list group. This suggests that acupuncture can be beneficial for recovery from facial palsy (Kwon et al., 2015).
Another study showed that acupuncture could be effective even for chronic Bell's palsy, as demonstrated in a patient with a 7-year history of the condition. This case demonstrated improvements in facial asymmetry and muscle strength following acupuncture treatment (Wong & Wong, 2008).
A clinical practice guideline based on evidence and expert consensus recommends acupuncture as a suitable treatment for Bell's palsy, particularly when applied as early as possible and in combination with Western medicine for severe cases (Wu et al., 2015).
Acupuncture combined with thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) showed partial clinical improvement in treating Bell’s palsy sequelae, indicating that combining different acupuncture methods might enhance treatment effectiveness (Park et al., 2020).
A study on the efficacy of acupuncture for Bell's palsy sequelae found significant improvements in facial nerve function and a reduction in sequelae symptoms, suggesting acupuncture as a safe and effective method for treating Bell's palsy sequelae (Öksüz et al., 2019).
In conclusion, acupuncture is beneficial in improving outcomes for patients with facial palsy, including those with long-standing symptoms and in combination with other treatments.
