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Electroacupuncture with different pulse patterns for the post-acute phase of Bell’s palsy: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial with surface electromyography evaluation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Bell’s palsy is a peripheral facial nerve neuropathy of the facial nerve of unknown origin that primarily causes unilateral facial muscle weakness or paresis. Electroacupuncture (EA) is used clinically to treat patients with Bell’s palsy in the post-acute phase; however, high-quality evidence supporting its effect remains insufficient. This study will investigate the effects of two commonly used EA pulse patterns and explore the electromyographic characteristics of Bell’s palsy using surface electromyography as an objective assessment method. Methods and analysis A total of 111 patients with Bell’s palsy will be recruited from two hospitals and randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio to the sham EA, continuous-pulse EA or intermittent-pulse EA group. This patient- and assessor-blinded, parallel-group trial will include a 4-week treatment period, with assessments conducted at baseline (day 0), at the end of week 2 and at the end of week 4. An additional follow-up assessment will also be conducted at 6 months after the disease onset. The primary outcome will be the Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0 score. Secondary outcomes will include the root mean square ratio between the affected and unaffected sides, median frequency ratio between the affected and unaffected sides, Sunnybrook Grading Scale score and Facial Disability Index score. All adverse events during the trial will be evaluated. Recruitment has not started yet. Ethics and dissemination Ethic approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (55) and the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (ZSLL-KY-2025-134). The findings of the study will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number NCT07514117.

Source: BMJ Open

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-122378