Electroacupuncture With Two Pulse Patterns for Bell's Palsy Using Surface Electromyography Evaluation

Summary

This clinical trial is designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of two EA parameter settings for Bell's palsy and to investigate the electromyographic characteristics of the disease. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Can continuous pulse pattern and intermittent pulse pattern of EA improve the symptoms of Bell's palsy?
* Do continuous pulse pattern and intermittent pulse pattern of EA impact the electromyographic characteristics of facial muscles in patients with Bell's palsy? The researchers will evaluate the effects of continuous pulse pattern and intermittent pulse pattern in treating Bell's palsy by using surface electromyography as an objective indicator of assessment. The trial lasts for 4 weeks and the treatment period lasts for 4 weeks.

Participants will:

* receive sham EA, EA with a continuous pulse pattern or EA with an intermittent pulse pattern for 3 times weekly for 4 weeks (12 sessions in total).
* receive assessment of symptom severity and social functioning on Day 0, end of week 2, end of week 4.

Conditions

• Bell Palsy

Interventions

PROCEDURE

sham EA

Non-acupoint locations approximately 5 mm away from the corresponding acupoints used in the continuous pulse pattern and intermittent pulse pattern groups will be selected. Superficial needling will be performed at these non-acupoints to a depth of 1-2 mm, without manual manipulation or intentional elicitation of the de qi sensation. EA devices will be connected to 4 paired points via specially customized wires lacking internal conductors: (1) non-acupoints near 1 cun medial to GB14 and 1 cun lateral to GB14, (2) non-acupoints near BL2 and GB1, (3) non-acupoints near ST4 and SI18, and (4) non-acupoints near Jiachengjiang and ST5. Needles will be retained for 30 min per session. Treatment will be administered three times per week for 4 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions.

PROCEDURE

Electroacupunture(continuous pulse pattern)

Acupoint selection for the continuous pulse pattern group will be guided by the principle of combining both local and distal acupoints, with a depth of 5 to 30mm and de qi sensation: Cuanzhu (BL2), Sizhukong (SJ23), Yuyao(EX-HN4), QiYangbai (three points including GB14, 1 cun medial to GB14, and 1 cun lateral to GB14), Tongziliao (GB1), Quanliao (Sl18), Dicang (ST4), Daying (ST5), Jiache (ST6), Jiachengjiang, Yifeng (SJ17), Sibai (ST2), Yingxiang (Ll20), Taiyang(EX-HN5) on the affected side, and Hegu (L114) bilaterally. EA devices (Hwato SDZ-ⅡB, Suzhou Medical Supplies Co., Ltd.) will be connected to 4 paired points: (1) 1 cun medial to GB14 and 1 cun lateral to GB14, (2) BL2 and GB1, (3)ST4 and SI18, (4) Jiachengjiang and ST5. A continuous pulse pattern at 2 Hz will be used for electrical stimulation with intensity adjusted to the maximum tolerable level below the pain threshold. The EA treatment will last for 30 min per session, three times per week for 4 weeks, 12 sessions in total.

PROCEDURE

Electroacupuncture(intermittent pulse pattern)

Acupoint selection for the intermittent pulse pattern group will be guided by the principle of combining both local and distal acupoints: Cuanzhu (BL2), Sizhukong (SJ23), Yuyao(EX-HN4), QiYangbai (three points including GB14, 1 cun medial to GB14, and 1 cun lateral to GB14), Tongziliao (GB1), Quanliao (Sl18), Dicang (ST4), Daying (ST5), Jiache (ST6), Jiachengjiang, Yifeng (SJ17), Sibai (ST2), Yingxiang (Ll20), Taiyang(EX-HN5) on the affected side, and Hegu (L114) bilaterally. EA devices will be connected to 4 paired points: (1) 1 cun medial to GB14 and 1 cun lateral to GB14, (2) BL2 and GB1, (3)ST4 and SI18, and (4) Jiachengjiang and ST5. An intermittent pulse pattern at 35 Hz will be used for electrical stimulation, with intensity adjusted to the maximum tolerable level below the pain threshold. The EA treatment will last for 30 min per session, three times per week for 4 weeks, 12 sessions in total.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

  collaborator OTHER

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-31

Primary Completion

2027-10-31

Completion

2027-12-31