Facial Palsy

What is Facial Palsy Physiotherapy?

Facial palsy physiotherapy aims to restore facial muscle function, improve symmetry, and enhance facial expressions after nerve damage, commonly caused by Bell’s Palsy, stroke, or trauma.

Physical therapy is an important nonsurgical rehabilitation parameter used to prevent or improve various disabilities developing from facial palsy. Usually, exercises including facial muscle stretching (massage), specific muscle strengthening, and biofeedback therapy are performed by various methods.

Common Causes of Facial Palsy

•  Bell’s Palsy (Idiopathic Facial Paralysis)
•  Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)
•  Facial Nerve Injury (Trauma, Surgery)
•  Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (Herpes Zoster Infection)
•  Guillain-Barré Syndrome
•  Neurological Disorders

Physiotherapy Treatments for Facial Palsy

1. Facial Exercises

•  Muscle Activation Exercises (Eyebrows, Lips, Cheeks)
•  Stretching & Strengthening of Facial Muscles
•  Mirror Therapy for Muscle Coordination

2. Neuromuscular Re-Education

•  Facial Massage for Muscle Stimulation
•  Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
•  Biofeedback Therapy

3. Electrotherapy & Pain Management

•  Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
•  Ultrasound Therapy for Nerve Healing
•  Heat & Cold Therapy

4. Speech & Functional Training

•  Improving articulation, swallowing, and overall facial coordination.

Benefits of Physiotherapy for Facial Palsy

•  Improves facial muscle movement & coordination
•  Reduces stiffness & facial asymmetry
•  Enhances facial expressions & confidence
•  Speeds up nerve recovery
•  Prevents long-term complications like synkinesis

When to See a Physiotherapist?

•  Immediately after facial paralysis symptoms appear
•  If facial weakness persists beyond two weeks
•  If difficulty in closing the eye, smiling, or speaking is present
•  For post-stroke or post-trauma facial rehabilitation