Effects of Low Laser Therapy on Facial Motor Functions Function and Synkinesis in Patients With Bell's Palsy

Patients assigned to experimental group received low level laser therapy and conventional therapy. Treatment frequency was five sessions/week for 4 weeks. . For laser therapy, Omega laser system used with infrared probes of 830 nm wavelength and 100 mW output power, average energy density of 10 J/cm2 , frequency of 1 KHz, and a duty cycle of 80 % in one group. In all cases, the laser was in direct contact with the superficial roots of the facial nerve on the affected side. And was applied for 2 min and 5 s per point for 8 points.

Group B was treated with conventional therapy. The interrupted galvanic electrical impulses with the duration of 3-30 milliseconds, the tolerable intensity was applied over the motor points of each facial muscle. A total of 30-60 electrical twitch induced muscle contractions will be maintained for each muscle. The facial muscles exercise training with mirror-visual feedback was progressed to resisted exercises by self and/or therapist-assistance. All exercises were demonstrated to participants by the therapist's efforts and instructed the participants to continue the exercises twice a day for 10-15 minutes. A pictorial leaflet of facial expressions exercises with appropriate instructions to perform exercises. Treatment frequency was five sessions/week for 4 weeks.