Manual Lymph Drainage Vodder (MLDV) Increases Facial Function in Bell’s Palsy Patients

Background: Commonly, Bell's palsy has been treated with conventional therapy, which can cause secondary effects. On the other hand, manual lymph drainage Vodder (MLDV) is an intervention aimed at reducing edema in lymphatic cases. The use of MLDV as an intervention for Bell's palsy has not been extensively studied. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of MLDV on facial function in patients with Bell's palsy. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted on 125 patients with Bell's palsy, comparing group 1 (MLDV) with group 2 (standard interventions). The study was conducted in Surabaya, Indonesia, from 2017 to 2024. The interventions were administered three times a week for 40-50 min until the patient was declared recovered. The measurements in this study were facial function (House-Brackmann (HB)) and facial muscle strength (manual muscle test). Results: Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon test for each group consistently showed p < 0.05 in both facial functional assessment and facial muscle strength. The Mann-Whitney analysis between groups also consistently indicated p < 0.05 for both functional and muscle strength assessments of the face. However, the mean difference was greater in group 1 than in group 2. The mean HB difference in group 1 was -2.11, while in group 2 it was -0.61. The mean muscle strength differences in group 1 was 2.43 and that in group 2 was 0.56. Conclusions: MLDV can be used to improve facial function in Bell's palsy cases without the potential for side effects compared to conventional therapy.