Effect of Laser Therapy on Bell's Palsy Patients at Udon Thani Hospital

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research study aimed to compare the effects of laser therapy versus electrical stimulation combined with standard physiotherapy programs on facial muscle function and social conditions in patients with Bell's palsy at Udon Thani hospital between December 2022 and June 2025. A quasi-experimental two-groups pre-post test design was employed. The sample consisted of 64 participants divided into two groups of 32 each; an experimental group receiving laser therapy combined with standard physiotherapy, and a control group receiving electrical stimulation combined with standard physiotherapy. The instruments used included: general patient data recording forms for Bell's palsy patients, Facial Disability Index (FDI) for assessing physical function of facial muscles (PFDI) and social/well-being function disability index aspects (SFDI), and House-Brackmann scale (HBS) for evaluating facial muscle function. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics T-test at a significance level of 0.05.

          Results: The experimental group had 53.13% males, mean age of 44.38±12.13 years old and illness duration of 9.10±4.88 days. The control group had 59.37% females, a mean age of 51.25±14.71 years old and illness duration of 10.85±7.26 days. No statistics differentness in demographic data of both groups. Within-group analysis revealed the physical function scores (PFDI) increased in the laser therapy (experimental) group from 60.56±17.20 to 92.66±11.56. and in the electrical stimulation (control) group from 55.16±3.03 to 87.81±16.26. These showed significant difference (p< 0.001 and p< 0.001, respectively). HBS scores decreased in the laser therapy group from 4.56±0.95 to 1.81±1.06, and in the electrical stimulation group from 5.09±0.15 to 2.44±0.22 with significant differences (p< 0.001) both groups. For social/well-being scores (SFDI), the experimental group showed better post-treatment social scores than control group, but no statistically significance (p= 0.956). Between-group comparisons after treatment showed no statistical differences were found between two groups in all items; PFDI (p= 0.128), SFDI (p= 0.130) and HBS (p= 0.066).

          Conclusion: Laser therapy and electrical stimulation combined with standard physiotherapy revealed no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes to restoring facial muscle function in Bell's palsy patients.