Electric Stimulation ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Humans

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Muscles ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effects of different acupuncture methods for recovery of mimetic function in the patient of spontaneous facial paralysis.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-four cases of facial paralysis were randomly divided into a mimetic muscle acupuncture group (mimetic muscle group, n = 79) and a routine acupoint group (n = 55). The mimetic muscle group were treated by encircling needling frontal belly of epicranial muscle, orbicular muscle of eye, orbicular muscle of mouth and buccinator muscle, and the routine acupoint group with acupuncture at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2), Cuanzhu (BL 2), etc. on the affected side. Their therapeutic effects were compared after they were treated for 2 courses.

RESULTSThe effective rate and the good rate were 94.9% and 92.4% in the mimetic muscle group and 70.9% and 52.7% in the routine acupoint group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of needling the mimetic muscle on spontaneous facial paralysis is superior to that of the routine acupuncture therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Muscles ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

With the development of electronics and information technology, the application of functional electrical stimulation in the medical field has been expanding. However, the use of functional electrical stimulation to treat patients with peripheral facial paralysis is still in its infancy. The main problems include: (1) Finding in the signals which could fire the stimulator; (2) Exploring the parameters for the stimulator; (3) The effects on the muscle attributed to the electrical stimulation. A review on these problems is presented.
Electric Stimulation Therapy ; methods ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Muscle Contraction

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate peculiar patterns of facial asymmetry following incomplete recovery from facial paralysis that require optimal physical therapy for effective facial rehabilitation, and to decrease the incidence of avoidable facial sequelae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 41 patients who had facial sequelae following the treatment of various facial nerve diseases from March 2000 to March 2007. All patients with a follow-up of at least 1 year after the onset of facial paralysis or hyperactive function of the facial nerve were evaluated with the global and regional House-Brackmann (HB) grading systems. The mean global HB scores and regional HB scores with standard deviations were calculated. Other factors were also analyzed. RESULTS: Four patterns of facial asymmetry can be observed in patients with incomplete facial recovery. The most frequently deteriorated facial movement is frontal wrinkling, followed by an open mouth, smile, or lip pucker in patients with sequelae following facial nerve injury. The most common type of synkinesis was unintended eye closure with an effort to smile. CONCLUSION: We described common configurations of facial asymmetry seen in incomplete recovery following facial nerve injury in an attempt to develop an optimal strategy for physical therapy for complete and effective facial recovery, and to decrease the incidence of avoidable sequelae.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Face/physiopathology ; Facial Asymmetry/*physiopathology ; Facial Nerve/pathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries/physiopathology/therapy ; Facial Paralysis/physiopathology/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo probe into the effective acupuncture technique for deviation of the mouth in intractable facial palsy.

METHODSOne hundred and one cases of intractable facial palsy were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (53 cases). Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sibai (ST 2), Jiache (ST 6) and Qianzheng (Extra) on the affected side were punctured in two groups. Additionally, three acupoints of the mouth were supplemented, named Dicang (ST 4), Kouheliao (LI 19) and Jiachengjiang (Extra) were added, and the sticking needle and traction method was adopted on them in observation group. the routine needling technique was applied in control group. The treatment was given once a day and 10-day treatment made one session. The changes in facial nerve function index (FNFI) were observed in 2 sessions of treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, FNFI in two groups increased significantly (both P < 0.01), but the improvement in observation group was better than that in control group (P < 0.01). In observation group, the basic recovery rate of FNFI was 87.5% (42/48), which was higher than that (67.9%, 36/53) in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe sticking needle and traction method o three points is the quite effective approach in the treatment of deviation of the mouth in intractable facial palsy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Face ; innervation ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Traction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the clinical efficacy on peripheral facial palsy between electro-acupuncture (EA) assisted with surface electromyography (sEMG) and conventional EA.

METHODSSixty cases of peripheral facial palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. EA was applied during the first 15 days of sickness in the two groups, at Xiaguan (ST 7), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Quanliao (SI 18) and Hegu (LI 4), once a day. In the observation, group, 15 days after sickness, according to the situation in sEMG, on the basis of the acupoints in the previous treatment, the corresponding acupoints were reselected for EA. In the control group, the conventional EA was kept on. The treatment was given once every two days till the 35th day of sickness. Separately, on the 5th, 15th and 35th days of sickness, according to the detection of sEMG in the patients of two groups, the means ratios of: root mean square (RMS) of musculi buccinators, orbicularis oris, frontalis and nasalis on the healthy and affected sides were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThe differences of ratio in RMS of musculi buccinators, orbicularis oris, frontalis and nasalis on the healthy and affected sides were significant statistically in comparison between the, 15th day and the 5th day, and between the 35th day and the 15th day of sickness within each group (all P<0. 01). The differences of ratio in RMS of the muscles on the healthy and affected sides were significant statistically on the 15th and 35th days between the two groups (all P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONEA assisted with sEMG achieves the significant efficacy on peripheral facial palsy, better than the conventional EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Electromyography ; Facial Muscles ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the better therapy for peripheral facial paralysis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients were randomized into three groups: a common acupuncture group: acupuncture at Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2) and Yingxiang (LI 20) as main acupoints, a ST 9 group: acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) as main and a ST 9 plus SGB group: acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) as main cooperated with stellate ganglion block (SGB). Once daily, 7 treatments made one session. After three sessions of treatment, the latency period and amplitude of evoked potential in ENoG, R1 value and R2 value of blink reflex were compared before and after the treatment in different groups separately. The total therapeutic effect was evaluated after treatment.

RESULTSAll the treatments shortened the latency period of ENoG, and elevated the amplitude evoked potential significantly. After treatment, the latency period in ST 9 plus SGB group was reduced significantly as compared with common acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The amplitude of evoked potential in ST 9 group was increased significantly as compared with the other two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, in each group, R1 and R2 values were shortened significantly. The difference values of R1 and R2 in ST 9 group and ST 9 plus SGB group were all significantly higher as compared with common acupuncture group (both P < 0.05). Additionally, the difference value of R1 in ST 9 plus SGB group was higher significantly than that in ST 9 group (P < 0.05). The clinical cured and remarkably effective rate was 87.5% (35/40) in ST9 plus SGB group, which was higher than 77.5% (31/40) in ST 9 group, and 65.0% (26/40) in common acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs compared with common acupuncture group, ST 9 group and ST 9 plus SGB group achieve the much superior efficacy on peripheral facial paralysis. The treatment with ST 9 acupuncture and SGB can better repair the early reflex induced by the injury of facial nerve.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autonomic Nerve Block ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stellate Ganglion ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo manifest the specificity of acupoints objectively through observing the relationship of both Guangming (GB 37) and Hegu (LI 4) with the some areas of face.

METHODSThe patients with peripheral facial paralysis were divided into the Guangming (GB 37) group and Hegu (LI 4) group, and punctured respectively. Before and after treatment, the distribution and change of facial temperatures were measured with infrared thermography and the data on each area was comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSAfter punctured at Guangming (GB 37), the temperature went up in the areas around the eyes of both health and affected sides, especially on the affected side, which was significantly different from the other facial areas (all P<0.05). After punctured at Hegu (IA 4), the temperature obviously went up in the area around the mouth, which was significantly different from other areas of face, such as the areas of Yintag and health eye. The temperature in the area around the affected eye was significantly higher than that of the area around the health eye.

CONCLUSIONThere is some close coordination between Guangming (GB 37) and eye area, as well as between Hegu (LI 4) and mouth area, suggesting the specificity of acupoints.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Face ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Thermography

OBJECTIVETo compare different therapeutic effects between single usage of acupoints of Shaoyang meridian and the routine ones for treatment of Bell palsy in acute stage.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases with Bell palsy during the first three days were random divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. In observation group, acupoints of Shaoyang meridians were used from the 3rd day till the 14th day, Fengchi (GB 20), Yifeng (TE 17), Wangu (GB 12) at the affected side etc. were selected, after the 15th day, the routine acupoints were applied, Hegu (LI 4) on both sides, Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Yangbai (GB 14) at the affected side etc. were selected; the control group were treated with the same acupoints as the routine ones in observation group since the 3rd day. And both two groups were treated with oral administration of Prednisone. House-Brackmann (H-B) functional grading of facial nerve on the 3rd day with the one of the 60th day as well as electroneurography (ENoG) on the 3rd day with the one of the 14th day were compared respectively.

RESULTSThe H-B grading improvement and cured rate were 95.0% (57/60) in observation group, which were suprior to 83.3% (50/60) in control group; the cured time in observation group was (34.21 +/- 8.026) days, significantly shorter than (42.78 +/- 9.029) days in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of oral administration of Prednisone, single usage of acupoints of Shaoyang meridian in acute stage can make great improvement for recovery of Bell palsy, better than routine point selection.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electromyography ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult